New Delhi, July 17, 2008 - In a wholesome backing for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s aggressive push to the deal, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi has said the deal was worth taking the risk of losing government. "If the government falls in the process so be it," Mr Gandhi said in Amethi.

Although he expressed the hope that the UPA will manage to win the trust vote, Mr Gandhi said considerations of power should not come in the way of the engagement with the US. "For ideological or political reasons the deal is being opposed. But the Congress has taken a decision which is correct. Sometimes in life, risk has to be taken. The prime minister thinks it is in the interest of the country. If the government falls in the process so be it," Mr Gandhi told reporters. Mr Gandhi said his party was in complete agreement with the prime minister’s assessment of the nuclear deal. "This decision that the prime minister has taken, in my view, is right. We are going to win the vote," he said.

Mr Gandhi also said that the stand of the government shows the leadership mettle of the prime minister. "I believe that you need guts to do it. I appreciate it. I would tell him (prime minister) to take the risk again and again and again. That is leadership," he said. Mr Gandhi, who maintained that the deal was critical for the country’s energy security, said the opposition to the deal was for purely political reasons. "The deal is fundamental for India’s future. It is fundamental for energy, the power situation here (Uttar Pradesh). It is fundamental for the nuclear industry. It’s important for India to become a large player. No right thinking person will argue that it is bad for the country."

Mr Gandhi claimed that support for the deal cuts across party lines. "There are people in BJP and other parties who are for the deal. I don’t understand why there are people opposing the deal. So if somebody argues that it is bad, then there is a feeling it is political. It is not only Rahul Gandhi but every young person in the country who is bound to support the deal because it is going to change the future face of the country," he said.

Mr Gandhi also said his party was willing to pay hefty political price for ensuring support for the nuclear agreement. When it was pointed out that this had led Congress to align with the Samajwadi Party — a party it had opposed earlier and the new alignment could hurt Congress in the long run — Mr Gandhi said: "My point is, we will stake whatever we can."

Mr Gandhi said his party considers the nuclear deal "fundamental" for the country. "It is a landmark for the energy situation and the nuclear industry is going to benefit all of us," he said.

The Congress general secretary praised the prime minister for his stand on the nuclear deal. "I am proud that Manmohan Singh has given the country vision, tenacity and leadership. Today you may say that it only involves generation of 3 % of energy but you never know our bright scientists would make it 70 %. I believe in this," he said.

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