The Hindu : National : BJP seeks to make the most of Left-Government differences

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Friday, Aug 04, 2006

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National

BJP seeks to make the most of Left-Government differences

Special Correspondent

Party has put behind discomfiture over the `mole' affair

"Manmohan opposed nuclear testing plan in 1995" Narasimha Rao buckled under U.S. pressure: Malhotra

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party is making the most of the open differences between the Left, especially the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Government over the India-United States nuclear deal. It has put on the back burner the unhappiness within the party on the Jaswant Singh and his nameless `mole' affair.

The BJP's strategy is to try and create a wider wedge between the CPI (M) and the government. On Thursday it went about the job, hinting that it was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as Narasimha Rao's Finance Minister who opposed the plan for nuclear testing in 1995 on the plea that it would hurt the economy.

"We allege that former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao buckled under American pressure," said BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha V. K. Malhotra.

As for the American Embassy describing as "a poor imitation" the `document' on the basis of which BJP leader Jaswant Singh built up his `mole in the PMO' theory, Mr. Malhotra said all governments would naturally deny the authenticity of any document that was part of their espionage files.

Earlier at a meeting of party leaders here the BJP took up various issues including how to deal with the privilege notice given against Mr. Jaswant Singh.

It seems one of the decisions taken was to become more strident against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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