Lucknow, July 17 (IANS) The India-US nuclear deal was more important than saving the government, Congress leader Digvijay Singh said here Thursday, adding that even former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was fully in favour of the deal. “The nuclear deal is most important for us and it will only help the country in becoming a global power,” Singh, Congress general secretary and the party’s Uttar Pradesh affairs in-charge, told reporters.

He said senior Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) leader and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also supported the deal. “In his private conversation, Atalji has also admitted that the nuclear deal is a must for the country,” he added.

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government faces a crucial floor test in the Lok Sabha July 22 to prove its majority following the withdrawal of support by its erstwhile Communist allies.

The Congress was not into horse-trading to gather necessary votes, Singh said.

Singh also appealed to all MPs to vote for the UPA government in the interest of the nation. “Winning the floor test is not our priority and we appeal to all parties to finish the turmoil. Supporting us to let the Lok Sabha complete its term is in the interest of the country,” he added.

Hinting at a probable alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Singh said: “Lal Krishna Advani’s high ambitions will wipe off BJP completely from Uttar Pradesh.”

He denied that Lucknow’s Amausi Airport was being renamed after Charan Singh, the late father of Rashriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh, to get his party’s three MPs to vote for the government.

Singh said a proposal to this effect was long pending. “The Uttar Pradesh government had sent the proposal (to name the airport after Charan Singh) about four years ago and it was under consideration,” he clarified.

Singh, on a two-day visit of the state, had a meeting with the party’s state office-bearers in the evening.