PM statement on Lebanon ''right-turn in policy'': Gurudas

New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) Taking strong exception to the UPA government's ''sharp departure'' on the country's foreign policy, the CPI today stated that the PM's suo moto statement on Lebanon smacked of a ''right-turn in policy''.

The Left party also came down heavily on the Manmohan Singh government for its ''ambiguous'' stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal, but clarified that it would not go in for any 'joint resolution' with the BJP, who is also opposed to the deal, charging the Congress-led coalition with ''surrendering the country's interests'' to the US.

Addressing a press conference in the precincts of Parliament, CPI General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta quoted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh having said that India had condemned in the strongest possible term the ''excessive and disappropriationate military retaliation by Israel,'' but termed the statement ''devoid of reality.'' ''It is in fact a political statment. Who is at the back of the Israel attack on Lebanon,'' he asked, hastening to add that Israel was the ''pitch of US imperialism.'' ''The US-backed agression on Lebanon is bound to destabilise the whole of Wesr Asia ... the US earlier attacked Iraq.. Now it has Syria and iran as the targets,'' Mr Dasgupta said, asking the UPA government had virtually given up the country's independent foreign policy.

Mr Dasgupta reacted sharply when a correspondent seeking to justify Israel's attack on its neighbour after two of its soldiers were abducted by Hizbollah guerillas, operating from its territory, suggested India follow suit on its borders.

''We don't believe in measures like 'hot pursuit'. If Indian personnel cross the border into Pakistan or Bangladesh, it would create more problems than the ongoing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,'' he said.

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