Wednesday, April 19 2006 11:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday (Apr 19, 2006) sought to dispel the impression that India was bowing to the United States' pressure on the Iran issue.

"There is no question of succumbing to external pressure with regard to foreign policy," he told a delegation of Muslim leaders headed by the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari in response to a question by a delegate on India's vote against Iran at the IAEA, an official release said.

"However, it is a fact that Iran had a clandestine nuclear programme for several years and it is not in our interest to have another nuclear weapons state in our neighbourhood. Iran should have all the rights and duties of a signatory state to the NPT," Singh told the delegation of representatives of Muslim organizations.

During the 45-minute meeting, the Prime Minister said the government was committed to addressing "genuine" problems of the Muslim community and provide equitable opportunities for its economic and educational advancement.

Singh said the high-level committee under Justice Rajinder Sachar set up to prepare a comprehensive report on the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in the country was expected to present its findings in the near future.

The Imam presented a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding, among other things, a special economic package for the victims of communal riots, restoration of minority status of Aligarh Muslim University, initiatives required to address economic and educational backwardness of the Muslim community and "illegal" occupation of Wakf properties.