Govt under fire in RS on US Senator's letter to PM

New Delhi, May 4: Rajya Sabha plunged into turmoil during Question Hour today on the issue of a US senator's letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioning India's relations with Iran, as the entire opposition as well as the CPM strongly condemned the US interference in India's foreign Policy matters.

Cutting across party lines, members, including the UPA allies CPM, demanded the US be categorically and in ''very strong terms' conveyed that India would not accept any outside interference in its foreign policy matters nor compromise with its sovereignty and national integrity.

Reports in the media today said US senator Tom Lantos had written a letter to the Prime Minister asking India to 'sever'' military ties with Iran and ''terminate'' all cooperation in the energy sector.

As soon as the House assembled for Question Hour, members were on their feet demanding suspension of the Question Hour and a discussion on the subject. Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, however, said the matter could be discussed after the Question Hour. Members' persistence later paid off and the first 25 minutes were devoted to the subject.

BJP member Yashwant Sinha, who spoke first, said it was a mtter of India's sovereignty and should be discussed in the House. He criticised the government for not taking the House into confidence on the issue when it was in session, specially on the recent visit of Foreign Secretary Shivshanker Menon to the US and his discussions with Bush Administration officials.

''This is a dangerous developmnent. But the government has not thought it fit to take the House into confidence,'' he said while accusing the government of ''buckling'' under US pressure.

UNI

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