The Hindu : Front Page : UNPA to seek vote

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 10, 2007
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UNPA to seek vote

Gargi Parsai

It says nuclear agreement is not in the national interest

NEW DELHI: The United National Progressive Alliance will seek a discussion in Parliament on the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal under Rule 184, that entails voting. This was decided at a meeting of the UNPA leaders here on Thursday.

At a separate press conference, Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav also opposed the nuclear agreement and said it was not in the national interest. “The deal compromises our foreign policy and is against the principle of non-alignment.”

The UNPA said a voting in Parliament on the deal would reveal the actual stand of political parties on the controversial 123 agreement. “In case there is division of votes, it will become clear where the Left parties stand,” said Indian National Lok Dal President Om Prakash Chautala at a joint press conference of the UNPA leaders.

The UNPA meeting was held to reiterate the “unified” support of the alliance in the vice-presidential election on Friday to their candidate, Rasheed Masood, and to decide their floor strategy for the monsoon session of Parliament.

Later, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh hosted a dinner for the parliament members of their eight-party coalition. Their collective strength in both the Houses is 82. All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Party chief Jayalalithaa was represented by the new leader of the Parliamentary Party, V. Maitreyan.

Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh and leader of the Telugu Desam Party Chandrababu Naidu said they were opposed to the nuclear deal. They felt it was a challenge to India’s sovereignty and was against the non-aligned policy.

“The Prime Minister’s briefing on the deal hides more than it reveals. We seem to have surrendered totally and are bowing before a foreign power, which will have dangerous results. We would not be able to assert our rights and the U.S. will dictate who should be our friends and our enemies.”

Quota issue

Mr. Naidu said the UNPA had decided to raise a number of issues in Parliament. The alliance leaders criticised the Central Government’s inability to get vacated the stay on implementing the order for 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in higher educational institutions.

“The leaders trashed the Special Economic Zone policy of the government as “real estate business” and said the wheat import was a “scam.”

Demanding the implementation of the recommendations of the Srikrishna Commission Report on Mumbai violence in 1992-93, the UNPA leaders said action was not being taken because the Congress wanted “to protect its own.”

They also sought restoration of peace process in Assam.

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