|
No change in BJP stand on nuclear issue, but may allow Parliament debate |
 |
Reports say that while there is no change in the BJP’s stand on the nuclear deal with the United States, it may not stall Parliament when a discussion takes place on the agreement with the United States. The BJP still wants the nuclear deal to be renegotiated as it holds that in its present shape it will ad¬versely affect the country’s strategic independence. The party is also sticking to its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Commit¬tee to study the deal and a note in Parliament on the deal.
Some senior BJP leaders have expressed the view that it will be in the party’s interest to allow a discussion on the nuclear deal as it would clearly bring out the fact that the Manmohan Singh government did not have the backing of its allies, not to speak of the supporting parties on the issue.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India David Mulford met leader of the Opposition of in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani at his resi¬dence on Oct. 24. It is understood that they exchanged notes on the nuclear deal. Earlier, Mulford had met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon. There are reports that at his meeting with Advani, Mulford tried to address BJP concerns over the agreement.
The BJP has expressed concern at what it called “growing intrusions” by Chinese troops in Indian territory. Party spokes¬man Rajiv Pratap Rudy said in New Delhi on Oct. 25 that the incursions point towards the existence of a carefully designed strategy to undermine India’s territorial integrity. He criti¬cised what he called the Centre’s indifferent attitude towards the incidents of incursions by Chinese troops. Rudy said that it is shocking that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has gone on a five-day visit to China accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi with what he called an “undisclosed agenda.” The BJP charged the Left and the Congress with maintaining what it called a “deafening silence” on issues of national security and sovereignty.
“Sad and helpless” PM cannot lead a growing nation : BJP
A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his embarrassment over the alleged U-turn by UPA allies over the nuclear deal, the BJP attacked him questioning his ability and authority to lead the country. Party general secretary Arun Jaitley said the reality of a “sad and helpless” Prime Minister is a cause for national worry as the Government stands paralysed by the standoff between the Congress and the Left. He said, “the nation needs an enthusiastic leader who is decisive and not helpless. You need a leader who takes decisions and can imple¬ment them.”
Reacting to the BJP tirade, the Congress on Oct. 24 de¬scribed the BJP as a “sad and defeated” party still unable to reconcile itself to its loss of power. Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan said Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani are disappointed and disillusioned leaders, and that Vajpayee always used the threat to quit as his best weapon and also used this weapon with great success to score victories over Advani.
|
