On the eve of the crucial UPA-Left meeting on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the government today indicated it would approach International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for negotiations on safeguards agreement.The indication by a senior minister came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Singh also held consultations with some of his senior cabinet colleagues including External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony and Home Minister Shivraj Patil.A senior minister said the government was contemplating approaching the IAEA, and tomorrow's meeting of the UPA-Left committee on nuclear deal was important in this regard.A formal view on this is expected to be firmed up tomorrow as the Left parties have hinted at softening their opposition to government's desire to approach IAEA.The development assumes significance as it came a day after Prime Minister met BJP patriarch A B Vajpayee in an apparent attempt to seek the opposition's support to the Indo-US nuclear deal.Lok Sabha will discuss the nuclear deal on November 27 after the return of the Prime Minister from a two-nation tour of Singapore and Uganda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said adding the government has offered the debate in the Rajya Sabha on November 28.The Prime Minister also held separate consultations with Dasmunsi and floor managers of the ruling side on the first day of the winter session of Parliament.
