Ramsethu not an issue for JD(U): Sharad Yadav

New Delhi, Sep 19 (UNI) Even while the Ramsethu controversy had come to the centre-stage of national politics, Janata Dal(United) President Sharad Yadav today said it was not an issue for his party and he did not want to get into the controversy.

''For us inflation, SEZ, corporate entering retail sector which affect the lives of common people is the the issue and not the Ramsethu,'' Mr Yadav told UNI.

Asked whether it indicated any division within the NDA as the BJP has attacked the government's stand on the Ramsethu issue, Mr Yadav said both the BJP and the JD(U) were separate parties and this matter didnot crop up in the NDA.

Asked about the ongoing controversy on the Ramsethu issue, Mr Yadav said his brain did not work on it.

''Its a big country, so issues do come up and many other people and the government is working on it. We do not want to get into this controversy,'' he said.

However, on the nuclear deal issue, Mr Yadav supported the NDA stand and said the deal was not in interest of the country.

In view of the ongoing stalemate between the Left Parties and the government on the issue, Mr Yadav felt that if the government operationalised the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Left parties would definitely withdraw their support.

In view of this, he felt the mid-term polls were round the corner . Asked whether the JD(U) was prepared for the elections, he replied political parties were always ready for polls.

About his reaction on Mukesh Ambani's SEZ in Navi Mumbai proposal getting clearance yesterday, Mr Yadav said his party has always been opposing the SEZ. The Government, it seems was ready to make SEZ in every corner of the country, he said and added that even thoug Sonia Gandhi said something on the issue, the government was doing different thing.

UNI