BJP awaits PM for debate on Indo-US Nuclear Pact

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The BJP today regretted that the debate on the Indo-US Nuclear deal in Parliament was ''deliberately'' being delayed on the pretext of non-availability of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The party said the debate on the issue was to be taken up in the Lok Sabha on August 20 but it could not take place as the Prime Minister was busy due to visit by the German Prime Minister.

Addressing newspersons, BJP Parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said they were yet to get a word from the government when the Prime Minister would be available. ''It seems the government is drawing a cold feet to face a debate on the controversial 123 agreement,'' he said.

The BJP, he said, meanwhile short listed three issues to be raised next week in Parliament along with the Indo-US deal. The issues are -- farmers problems, price rise and internal security.

The party had already given notices for them, Mr Malhotra said.

He said Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee who had agreed to debates on these issues had already conveyed to the party that farmers problems could be discussed on either August 29 or 30.

Expressing concern over the unbridled price rise, Mr Malhotra said almost all people, particularly the poor and the middle class, were badly affected by the steep rise in prices of essential commodities, including food and vegetables. He said the Government had miserably failed to control the situation.

Similar was the situation on the internal security front where there was an increase in terrorists strike and the Government had failed to effectively check it, he said.

While discussing the issue, the BJP would also refer to the Sachar Committee report which was aimed at ''appeasing the minorities'', he said.

UNI