Praising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s “vision, tenacity and leadership” on the Indo-US nuclear deal, AICC general secretary and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi today said the deal was worth the risk and “desh hit mein sarkar gir jaye to gir jaye (if the government falls while acting in national interest, so be it)”. He, however, expressed confidence that the government would win the trust vote in Parliament on July 22.

Gandhi took the battle over the deal into the heart of the BJP when he said “there are people in BJP and other parties who are 100 per cent for the deal.”

“I have spoken to many young leaders across parties. They support the deal and are convinced about it. They say they don’t understand why their leadership is opposed to it,” he told reporters at the end of a three-day visit to his constituency.

“The parties that are opposing the deal also know that it is good for the country. Right-thinking persons say this is an exceptional deal. Every youth appreciates this deal. The deal is being opposed only because of ideological points or political compulsions.”

Describing the nuclear deal as key to India’s energy needs and future development, Gandhi praised Singh for his decision to go ahead with the deal even if it meant risking his own government.

“Kabhi risk lena parta hai, government ko risk hai. Desh hit mein sarkar gir jaye to gir jaye (Sometimes one has to take a risk, there is a risk to the government. If the government falls while acting in national interest, so be it).”

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