Even though prime minister’s special envoy on nuclear deal Shyam Saran insisted on Tuesday that the process of negotiations with the IAEA should be expedited, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that the next meeting had been scheduled to clear “some of the doubts” of the crucial outside supporters. Mukherjee said, “In depth discussions were held on the India-specific Safeguards Agreement between India and the IAEA and the Left parties have sought further clarifications.” “Further discussions will be held in the next meeting of the committee to be held on May 28,” he said.

Ahead of that meeting, the four Left parties would meet on May 23 to finalise their stand. The government representatives in the committee had said that the IAEA negotiations were necessary for going ahead with the agreement with Russia on nuclear energy.

A senior Left leader said the UPA leaders in the joint committee were “desperate” in getting the approval of the Left parties.