UPA Govt could collapse over nuclear agreement, says Rajnath

Korba, Chhattisgarh, Aug 17 (UNI) BJP president Rajnath Singh today said he did not rule out possibility of collapse of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government over the nuclear agreement imbroglio.

Talking to newspersons here, he said Left parties, which are opposing the Indo-US nuclear agreement, have exposed themselves with their double standards over the issue.

''Left parties are opposing the deal but they are hesitant to withdraw their support to the UPA,'' he said, adding ''They want to enjoy the fruits of power.'' Mr Singh said the BJP had given a notice in the Lok Sabha for a discussion and voting on the issue, as the party seriously viewed the developments over the Indo-US agreement.

Stating that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not even mention anything about the Indo-US nuclear agreement and even about the problem of terrorism in his Independence day address to the nation, the BJP President said the agreement had led to erosion of country's atomic independence.

''These issues are not in the priority list of the UPA,'' he said, claiming that the UPA government had failed on all fronts.

Replying to a question about reservation, Mr Singh said his party was of the view that all scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other weaker sections and even those who were economically backward must get the benefits of reservation.

''However, we are opposed to the concept of reservation based on religion,'' he added.

UNI