The Bharatiya Janata Party has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and his government to tender an apology to the nation and explain why it mislead the country on the nuclear deal.

Prakash Javadekar, spokesman for the party, took the United Progressive Alliance government to task after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's expected revelation that " the US will support the agreement between India and Nuclear Suppliers Group if it is consistent with the Hyde Act."

Javadekar was addressing a press conference on Friday.

According to Javadekar, the Rice's statement has exposed the UPA government to the hilt.

He asserted that the statement of the US secretary of state is in consistence with the stand taken by the BJP that the Hyde Act would over-ride the 123 agreement.

"The BJP demands that the government should clarify why it mislead the country by maintaining that the Hyde Act is not binding on it," he said.

Rice made it clear that the civilian nuclear agreement would be rejected by the law makers of United States if it did not adhere to Hyde Act.