N-deal: BJP wants discussion under rule 184

New Delhi, Aug 10: The BJP today made it clear that it would not accept any other discussion except under rule 184, which entails voting, on the 123 Agreement to formalise the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

''We have given a notice for a discussion under rule 184, and the Chair and the government should agree to it. The issue involves nuclear sovereignty of the country and a simple discussion under any other rule will not suffice,'' BJP Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra said.

Taking great exception to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement ruling out any re-negotiation on the matter, the BJP leader said it was very unbecoming on the part of the Prime Minister to say like that.

''India is the biggest democracy of the world and the sense of Parliament on the issue must prevail,'' he said, claiming that a majority of MPs were against the accord.

He also lashed out at the Left Parties which began their propaganda at a ''very high pitch'' but now submitted to the wishes of the Government, saying it always befooled the people of the country like that. ''It has become their character.'' He said their proposal that a discussion could be held either under rule 193 or on the PM's statement was unacceptable to the BJP.

The NDA, he said, was meeting in the evening under the chairmanship of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence to prioritise the issues to be raised in Parliament during the 23-day session.

Asked if that meant the BJP would disrupt the proceedings in the Lok Sabha if their demand for a discussion under rule 184 was not accepted, Mr Malhotra said, ''We never disrupt proceedings but raise our issue forcefully.'' The Opposition, he said, had given about 70 notices, including a discussion under 184, 193 and calling attention. Goa developments took priority over all other issues as the manner in which a minority government had been helped to retain power. ''It was nothing but a murder of democracy,'' he said.

In a democracy, he said, a majority rules but keeping a minority government in Goa was 'unethical and immoral.'

Other issues to be raised by the NDA include farmers' plight on which the party is demanding a discussion on August 20, the day it is to hold a big demonstration before Parliament to press for the demands of farmers. It would remind the UPA government of the non-fulfillment of the PM's package to farmers, farmers suicide, wheat import scam and price rise.

Mr Malhotra termed ''incorrect'' all the claims of the Government that the price index had come down.

Kashmir, particularly in reference to the Prime Minister's proposal that LoC be treated as actual borders between India and Pakistan, was also on the priority list of the BJP which had cautioned the government against reduction of forces and redeployment of forces, he added.

The UPA must explain whether the Centre or the State Government had any control there or only the writ of separatist forces prevailed there, Mr Malhotra said.

Floods in various parts of the country, SEZ and FDI in retail in which even big industrial houses like Reliance and Tata were also taking interest were some of other issues to be given a priority by the Opposition, he informed.

UNI