To press his justification of the deal, he cited the support the agreement has got from former President A P J Abdul Kalam, former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and the scientific community.

Kalam, Mishra and the scientific community are of the "near unanimous opinion that the nuclear deal is in our national interest," Singh told journalists in Bagdogra before wrapping up his two-day visit to Bhutan.

The deal will enlarge our options to produce nuclear power, the Prime Minister said.

Seeking to allay apprehensions about the deal, he said, "We will continue to protect our strategic programme. I sincerely hope that good sense will prevail," he added.