PM has lost all political legitimacy: BJP

New Delhi, Oct 16 (UNI) Stopping short of asking for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation for giving up the nuclear deal, the BJP today said that whatever little political legitimacy he had was totally lost.'' BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad said that it was Dr Singh who had placed his 'personal prestige and honour' at stake when he said the nuclear deal cleared by his Cabinet was 'non-negotiable' but now with the Left parties breathing down his neck, he was now saying the United States that there were 'difficulties' in operationalising the deal. "We leave it to his judgement to ponder if he has moral authority to lead the nation", he remarked.

Asked why the BJP was not demanding Dr Singh's resignation, a top BJP leader said "We will not commit that mistake", hinting that the BJP would play no part in removing the PM from his post to pave way for a takeover by a member of the first family of Congress.

Attacking the Left, Mr Prasad said they, particularly the CPI-M would have no problems if the nuclear deal were to happen with China. "They are happier with nuclear Iran but not a nuclear India", he said adding that as far as the BJP is concerned, the party was for India having good relations with USA but that does not mean surrendering Indian interests. He disagreed with a suggestion that it was BJP which initiated the process. Initiating the process and surrendering Indian interests are two different things and one has to note this, he said.'' UNI