The Hindu : National : Advani: BJP responsible for Manmohan's statement

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Saturday, Sep 09, 2006

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Advani: BJP responsible for Manmohan's statement

Neena Vyas

"It is a comedown from the Government's earlier stand on nuclear deal"

OFF TO A START: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani lighting a lamp to inaugurate the three-day national executive meet of the BJP in Dehra Dun on Thursday. — PHOTO: PTI

DEHRA DUN: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani claimed here on Friday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was "forced" to make a forthright statement on the civilian nuclear deal with the United States during the monsoon session in Parliament due to the concerns expressed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He was referring to Dr. Singh's response to the parliamentary debate on the subject.

"The Prime Minister was forced to make a detailed statement [on the nuclear issue], which is a substantial comedown from the Government's earlier stand on the matter. He was forced to address many of the concerns [expressed] by the BJP and the nuclear scientists," he said.

Pat for Shourie, Sinha

Mr. Advani praised BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie for their speeches and writings on the subject although a senior party colleague had told reporters that the "thunder" on the nuclear issue had been clearly stolen by the CPI (M). Mr. Advani said, "the Government doggedly refused a debate on the subject."

He was addressing the party'snational executive committee at the end of the session on Friday.

`Stand vindicated'

Mr. Advani said the Opposition had succeeded in cornering the Government on several issues in Parliament. He spoke about the office of profit issue, saying the BJP's stand that there should be a comprehensive amendment to the law had been vindicated when the Government itself set up a joint parliamentary committee on this.

Against `pseudo-secularists'

He criticised Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her absence during the singing of Vande Mataram at the All-India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi. The BJP's anger on the mishandling of Vande Mataram celebration should not be directed at any community, but against "pseudo secularists."

The Congress, he alleged, was no longer a force aligned with India's national interests or nationalism and had become "physically, mentally and emotionally alienated from the freedom struggle." The suggestion was that the BJP was now the nationalist force.

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