BJP stoutly defends Fernandes' remark against PM

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) The BJP today stoutly defended the remarks made by NDA convener George Fernandes against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the 123 Indo-US civil nuclear pact that if a Chinese leader had entered into such an agreement, he would have been "shot in the head." Talking to newspersons, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said Mr Fernandes was expressing his "anger and anguish" on the Indo-US Nuclear Deal and he had done it in his own way.

Many leaders had expressed their concern and shown their anger on the deal in their respective way. Mr Fernandes had also done it."Everybody has his own style of expression," she said.

Asked if she condemned the language used by Mr Fernandes, she replied in the negative, saying she would not comment on somebody's style of expression. "I will only say, we are not happy and expressing our anger. So did Mr Fernandes," she said.

She maintained that India had lost its nuclear sovereignty earned during the NDA regime against stiff US sanctions by signing this agreement.

When pointed out that the NDA had also agreed to "voluntary moratorium" on nuclear tests, she said there is a difference between the two. The decision of voluntary moratorium entirely was India's, not based on the desire of any other country. "Ek mera haath rok raha hai and main apna haath khud pakde hua huen, donon mein bahut antar hai" (There is a big difference between one is controlling your hand and you are holding your hand), she said.

UNI