India tells US not to interfere in Iran pipeline deal

New Delhi, May 8: India has told the United States to keep its hands off the issue of Iran gas pipeline and declared that it will take a decision in the matter in accordance with its energy needs and national interest.

This assurance was given in Parliament today by Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora.

He said India would not be cowed down by the threat of the US or any other country in pursuing its energy policy.

Mr Deora said the US Energy Secretary was recently in India and the Government told him that it was none of America's business to advise what India should do on the pipeline issue.

The Minister's response came while replying to a supplementary by Ms Brinda Karat of the CPI(M) who referred to a letter by a US Senator in which he was reported to have cautioned India against going ahead with the plan to construct a gas pipeline up to Iran.

She said the matter was very disturbing and the US attitude amounted to interference in the sovereign affairs of the country.

She demanded that the House wanted an assurance from the House that it would not bow to foreign pressure.

UNI

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