“Giving MNNA status is not something big. The USA knows that whenever India wants, it can get it. What is objectionable is that US Secretary of State Colin Powell did not inform us while he was here on way to Islamabad,” Mr Vajpayee said in an interview with Hindi daily Dainik Jagran.

He was replying to a question whether he agreed with the view that the USA always adopted double standards when it came to relations between India and Pakistan and that perhaps this was the reason for Washington not taking New Delhi into confidence on the MNNA status issue.

On Indo-Pak ties affecting harmony between Hindus and Muslims in the country, he said, “whether we want it or not, it does affect the Hindu-Muslim relations. During times of tension or conflict, it is not unexpected if this is further aggravated to some extent”.

The Prime Minister, however, discounted reports that the revival of cricketing links between the two countries would have a bearing on the electoral prospects.