Prime Minister Manmohan Singh once again came out in defence of the Indo-US pact on nuclear cooperation as a “risk worth taking'' and said the agreement was signed in the “national interest''.

Replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha over his recent US visit, Singh scotched allegations that the country had been kept in the dark about the nuclear agreement. He said two separate meetings had been held to keep the Left parties and the Opposition posted on the deal.

Reiterating that India had not lost autonomy over its nuclear programme, the PM said: “Nothing in life is certain...We have to take precaution. But not taking a risk will be an act of lethargy...If there are risks, they are calculated and worth taking.'' He said the agreement would open doors for more energy reserves for India and help spur development.

Taking the same line that he did in the Lok Sabha yesterday, the Prime Minister assured the Upper House that his government would in no way compromise on security-related issues.

Singh also asserted that segregating civilian and military nuclear capabilities would not affect India in any way as it had been originally envisaged by the father of the Indian nuclear programme, Dr Raja Ramanna.

“We have the essential safeguards, which will ensure that India's autonomy and independence in the management of its nuclear capabilities is not compromised in any way,'' the PM said.

Dismissing the Opposition charge that the deal was not in the best interest for India, the PM pointed out that its central point was “reciprocity''.

Besides, India had already agreed on a moratorium on nuclear tests and passed a law preventing transfer of nuclear technology, he said.

Taking a dig at BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, who in her address to the House had referred to US Assistant Secretary of State Nicholas Burn's remarks that India had virtually conceded to the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, the PM said: “She (Swaraj) preferred to believe in him than me. She has greater confidence in what he said than me.''

Singh said India would have equal status with regard to international trade in civilian nuclear facility if the agreement was cleared by the US Congress. “It will open up new possibilities for development,'' he said, adding that the country might have 30,000 MW to 40,000 MW of nuclear capability in the next 20 to 30 years, triggering a second industrial revolution.

On a query raised by Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh, Singh said India has agreed on a Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty. “There is no difference in the commitments made by the previous NDA government and our government. The only additional commitment we have given (to the US) is to separate military and civilian programmes.''