New York : Firmly rejecting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's contention that the authority of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is "withering away," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said he was ``fully authorised'' to carry on the negotiations.

"India is a mature democracy and the Prime Minister negotiates on behalf of the Government. There is no question of withering away of the authority. The Prime Minister is fully authorised to carry on the negotiations," Mr. Mukherjee told reporters here after addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

The Pakistan President in his book In The Line of Fire: A Memoir has said that the initial signs of sincerity and flexibility he sensed in Dr. Singh were "withering away."

``The initial signs of sincerity and flexibility that I sensed in Manmohan Singh seem to be withering away. I think the Indian establishment — the bureaucrats, diplomats and intelligence agencies and perhaps even the military — has gotten the better of him," Gen. Musharraf writes in the book.

No question of defeat

Mr. Mukherjee also rejected the General's claim that India was defeated in the Kargil conflict. ``India had got back all its area in Kargil and also established its post there. So, there is no question of defeat."

"It's high time for reforms at the United Nations, including the Security Council," Mr. Mukherjee said.

"There is consensus on U.N. reforms, but not on how to achieve the same. We are confident that India will find a place among the permanent members."

On India's candidate for U.N. Secretary-General's post, Shashi Tharoor, Mr. Mukherjee said: ``He's scored reasonably well [in two informal straw polls]. Let's see what'll happen."

On his bilateral meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, he said various issues were discussed, civilian nuclear deal being one of them.

Asked whether India was insisting that Australia and other countries should supply uranium for its nuclear energy needs, Mr. Mukherjee said: ``We are not going to pressurise anybody to give uranium or anything else." — PTI, UNI

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