New Delhi: The Left parties hold Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in "high esteem" despite persisting differences on Indo-US civil nuclear deal and other issues, CPI said today.

"There are differences (on the nuclear deal) and these continue to remain," CPI national secretary D Raja said here. But "there was never any disrespect or disregard" towards the Prime Minister and "we always hold him in high respect and high esteem," he said. His statement echoed the remarks made by CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat who hailed Singh for his "unquestioned integrity".

Noting that the controversial nuclear deal issue was being discussed by the UPA-Left committee, Raja said, "Let us wait how we are going to sort out these problems and arrive at some findings." He said the dialogue process is going on and "we have to wait for some time."

Pointing out that the Left has had differences with the government on several issues including economic policies, he said, "we take up these issues at the appropriate forum and even don't hesitate to protest" demanding course correction.

Earlier in a newspaper interview, Karat disagreed that the Prime Minister should resign over the nuclear deal and said that Left wanted the UPA government to complete its full term.