Washington: India today said it will not move forward on the civil nuclear deal with the US till a political consensus is achieved and that Government was making efforts to evolve a "meeeting ground" with outside supporters Left parties.

"If we are able to evolve a consensus then it will be possible to hasten the process(of taking the deal forward)," visiting External Affairs Minister Mukherjee told reporters, as the US nudged India into concluding the agreement with the IAEA and seek NSG waiver by May to give the Congress time to have a final vote on the deal. The Left is opposed to the deal.

Mukherjee, who met President George W Bush at the White House for 35 minutes and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice yesterday, said UPA government is "interested" in pursuing the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and that it was aware of the timeframe suggested by members of the US Congress but certain issues were yet to be resolved.

Conveying to Mukherjee Washington's desire to take the deal forward, Rice had said it is a "landmark agreement which is good for both sides....we will continue to work on that agreement." ""Let us see. Events have their own momentum", said Mukherjee when asked by when he expected the political process in India to be hastened.

"The UPA government is trying to work out a meeting ground between it and a section of its supporters(to evolve a consensus)," said Mukherjee who is on his maiden bilateral visit to the US.

Source : PTI