UNPA to raise nuclear deal issue under Rule 184 in Parliament

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) Terming the nuclear deal with the US as a total surrender of the country's sovereignty, the seven-party United Progressive National Alliance (UNPA) today said it would raise the issue under Rule 184, which entails voting, in the monsoon session of Parliament beginning tomorrow.

In a veiled criticism of the Left parties, the Alliance said raising the issue under Rule 193, which the Left said they would do, was not going to bother the government much as it would not lead to voting.

''The matter is very grave. The deal is completely in favour of the US. India has bartered its national interest through 123,'' said UNPA leaders Chandrababu Naidu of TDP and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav addressing a news conference along with other Alliance leaders after a meeting.

They said the UPA government had no foreign policy and had completely deviated from the one Nehru had evolved.

''The terms of the 123 agreement are heavily tilted against India. The US will dictate the terms to us now,'' they added.

Mr Naidu said the UNPA would put up firm opposition to the nuclear deal both inside and outside Parliament.

It would hold rallies across the country to make people aware of how the country's interests were being traded off, he said.

When asked whether they considered the Left opposition to the deal serious, as it had said it would raise the issue in Parliament under Rule 193 which does not require voting, Mr Naidu said the question should be put up to the Left, but it was obvious that if one was serious about the issue, one should demand discussion on it only under Rule 184.

Asked if the UNPA will try for floor coordination with the NDA and the Left, Mr Naidu said the UNPA has made its stand known, but it had not contacted any other party.

He said corruption, scams, victimisation of political opponents, land use policy and related incidents in Andhra Praadesh, promotion of real estate under the garb of SEZ, non-implementation of Srikrishna Report on Mumbai riots, failure of the Centre and state governments to tackle the flood situation, farmers suicide and price rise were the other main issues on which the UNPA would try to corner the government in the monsoon session.

''There are no differences among us and all UNPA constituents will work in tandem in Parlaiment,'' he said.

The UNPA leaders also objected to the Government permission to the BSP to construct a memorial for its founder leader Kanshi Ram in a bungalow in Lutyen's zone. They said there were other national leaders of much more importance like Jai Prakash Narain, Babu Jagjeevan Ram, Narsimha Rao etc to be considered for such memorials.

Today's meeting was attended by leaders of all constituents.

However, Ms Jayalalithaa of the AIADMK could not come as she was not well, the press conference was told. She was represented by Dr V Maitreyan.

The JVM also could not send their representative because they were busy in elections.

Others present besides Mr Yadav, Mr Naidu and Mr Maitreyan included Mr Om Prakash Chautala of the INLD, Mr Amar Singh and Mr S Bangarappa of the SP, Mr Kumar Deepak Das of the AGP and Mr Ravi Chandran of the PMK.

UNI