'UPA foreign policy deviating from Nehru's vision'

Bangalore, Feb 20: The UPA Government at the Centre has deviatedfrom the independent and non-aligned foreign policy envisioned by thecountry's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by ''shamelessly''toeing the line of the United States, suspended Congressman and formerForeign Minister Natwar Singh alleged today.

Delivering a talk on 'India's Foreign Policy and Iraq', organisedby Samajwadi Party here, he claimed that the country's foreign policybased on national consensus was being eroded by Prime Minister ManmohanSingh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to please the US. Till lastyear, there was a broad consensus on how the country's foreign policyshould be, he added.

Condemning the invasion of Iraq by the US and the subsequentexecution of its deposed President Saddam Hussein following a''flawed'' trial, he said it was sad that both Mr Singh and Mrs Gandhihad failed to condemn the unacceptable act of the US. ''This (the Iraqmisadventure) is going to be a bigger tragedy for the US than thedebacle it suffered in Vietnam,'' he predicted.

''Nobody can change India's fundamental foreign policy and getaway with it. The fundamental question is the silence of Dr Singh andMrs Gandhi over the execution of Saddam Hussain, who was a great friendof India. We should insist that the UPA Government follow the foreignpolicy as visualised by Pandit Nehru and followed by Indira Gandhi andRajiv Gandhi,'' Mr Singh said.

On the Volcker report which indicted him in the corruption byUN-appointed agencies working in the 'food for oil' programme in Iraq,he said he was neither involved in any of the deals, nor had he signedany contract or even a receipt.

''Not a single Indian company was questioned in this matter, whileI was victimised. The amount involved was Rs 55 lakh while theGovernment has spent crores of Rupees by appointing three inquirycommissions. While other countries involved in the programme hadconsigned the report to dust bin, it was blown out of proportions inIndia. Media also got on my back. Later, I realised that this was apolitical conspiracy hatched by some vested interests against me,'' hesaid.

UNI