UPA under US pressure, should oppose Saddam hanging- Mulayam

Lucknow, Nov 6 (UNI) Strongly opposed to the death sentence handed to toppled leader Saddam Hussein by a U S-backed Iraqi court, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today came down heavily on the Indian government for its 'infirm; stand on the issue.

''It was American President George W Bush who was guilty of killing innocent Iraqis but Saddam Hussein has been awarded the death sentence,''the UP CM told reporters in his reaction.

''Samajwadi Party will oppose capital punishment to the topple leader and expected the same from the UPA government at the Centre,'' Mr Yadav said.

Saddam was sentenced to death by the court yesterday on the charge of killing innocent Shias in Iraq during his regime.

He said the reaction of Congress-led UPA government was 'unclear', 'lopsided' and 'inadequate' and it was clearly under the pressure of the Pentagon. ''We demand clear stand of the United Progressive Alliance government which should come out in support of Saddam instead playing to the tune of Bush,'' he remarked.

When asked if SP demanded all party meeting on the issue, Mr Yadav said ''They (UPA) never do it. They never discuss important issues with other parties and it has happened so many times,'' he added.

Mr Yadav said it was most unfortunate that the country as big like India buckles under pressure of US so easily. He was, however, all praise for the first prime minister of the country Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru who according to him used to take stand against the US government.

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