Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] today denied that he had opposed the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998.

Intervening in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the confidence motion, Dr Singh said he had criticised the government in the wake of sanctions on India following the tests.

I acted only in national interest, says Dr Singh

Dr Singh said he had also made comments on the nuclear tests in the context of non-proliferation goals that India had put forward in the United Nations in 1988.

Coverage: An Alliance in Crisis

Earlier, Leader of Opposition L K Advani [Images] had said that Dr Singh, as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha in 1998, had opposed the Pokhran-II tests.

Let the next govt take a final call on N-deal: Maya

Dr Singh said the records could be gone through to check exactly what he had said.

Advani also referred to the 'sharp exchanges' Dr Singh had with a BJP leader in the Rajya Sabha.

The prime minister clarified that the exchanges were in context of the sanctions.