There is no deadline to conclude the India-United States civilian nuclear agreement, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters aboard Air India One on Tuesday evening.
The prime minister acknowledged that the problems, which have dogged the deal since the Left parties opposed the operationalisation of the 123 Agreement with the United States last August, continue, but he said the effort and process to persuade the opponents of the treaty are on.
"I have not lost hope," he said, adding that, "it is an exercise in mutual comprehension and mutual perception. But we cannot wish away domestic arithmetic."
Asked whether he saw a general election this year or as scheduled next year, Dr Singh said, "I am not an astrologer, but I hope my government completes its full term."
The prime minister said the next election would be conducted with the new delimitation of parliamentary seats, except in five states. The government believes the situation is not conducive in Jharkhand where the delimitation process will alter the texture of tribal seats in a largely tribal state, while the process has not been concluded in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.
Dr Singh discussed the nuclear agreement at his meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing, and requested China's support if and when India takes the agreement to the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Though he did not get a "firm, definite answer" from the Chinese -- Hu and Wen would only commit to supporting "cooperation in civil nuclear cooperation, consistent with their non proliferations obligations" -- Dr Singh does not think China will be an obstacle at the NSG, given "the relationship of trust and confidence we have succeeded in building."