BJP ponders over Advani's statement on nuke deal

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) Top BJP leaders today held a meeting to discuss the situation arising out of the statement by senior leader L K Advani that the party was not opposed to the Indo-US Nuclear deal provided it did not compromise on country's strategic interest.

The meeting which was attended by former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Mr Arun Shourie, party president Rajnath Singh, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi and Mr Advani himself discussed the issue threadbare.

The party is likely to come out with a statement tomorrow after the Parliamentary meeting, highly informed sources said.

Sources indicated that the majority in party was not happy over Mr Advani's comment given in an interview in Hyderabad and felt that there could be no going back on the stated position over the issue.

''There can be no change in the party's strategy nor the RSS has changed its stance,'' sources maintained.

On the other hand ''camp followers'' of Mr Advani explained that he was not articulating anything new as the BJP's official line was that India should renegotiate the 123 Agreement with the US and get things clarified about supply of nuclear fuel and heavy water in the event of fresh nuclear tests by the country.

India's moratorium on future tests announced soon after Pokhran II tests cannot be abandoned ''at the behest of another nuclear power'', sources said.

UNI