Parliament to discuss N-deal on Aug 14,16

NEW DELHI: A discussion on Indo-US civil nuclear deal will be held in Parliament on August 14 and 16.

Stating this here on Friday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi maintained that the government wants the discussion on the issue as early as possible.

The government has nothing to hide and is ready to discuss the issue, he told reporters.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a statement in Parliament on August 13.

The government's Left allies as well as opposition NDA and UNPA have rejected the 123 nuclear agreement concluded last month and are pressing for a debate on the issue in Parliament.

However, while NDA and UNPA are demanding the debate under Rule 184, which entails voting, the Left wants the discussion without voting under Rule 193.

With the nuclear deal set to dominate the proceedings of Parliament, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will not be travelling to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, next week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet.