As Dr. Manmohan Singh broods over the misfortune that has befallen the nucleur deal, he is forgetting some basic tenets of a democratic ruler.

Firstly, as a  majority of Parliamentarians are against the deal in its present format, Dr. Singh should accept that as a democratic outcome of his efforts and not take the loss personally. He should, of course,  try and convince his colleagues on the importance he feels the deal has for the country and leave it that.

So far as the matter of country's prestige is concerned Dr Singh should recollect that it was the US which sneaked in the Hyde Act AFTER they had signed a draft agreement with India. So why should we be bound by that Act which clearly is a breach of the original agreement?. Moreover, he must also try and appreciate that the US Congress also has yet to approve the deal . What happens if India goes thru all the required steps like IAEI approval, NSG approval and then the US Congress turns it down . Will President Bush feel so down cast or ashamed?? The answer is no !!!

So Dr Singh should stop brooding and get on with other necesaarry jobs that a PM has to do  and run the country. It is not the end of the road for him or his party or the country.

Remember, a duck can afford to be lame if it is a good swimmer so forget all that nonsense about being a lame duck government.