BJP takes exception to ''keeping Parliament in dark'' on nuke deal

New Delhi, Aug 31 (UNI) Taking exception to the Government keeping Parliament and the Opposition parties ''in the dark'' about the Indo-US nuclear deal, the BJP today said it was not a fair step in a democracy.

BJP Parliamentary Party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the BJP was opposed to any mechanism on the issue that kept the Opposition in the dark as it was not an internal matter between the Congress and the Left, but the issues concerning the country's foreign relations and its future national security.

''The two parties can have dialogue with each other but the nation, Parliament and the Opposition cannot be put on the tenterhooks for resolving their marital problems. A Joint Parliamentary Panel on the issue was the only acceptable solution,'' he said.

He said there was some confusion over External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's announcement about the delay in the operationalisation of the accord.

''The political parties have a right to know what has been put on hold and to what extent? Does he make such an important announcement outside when Parliament is in session?'' he wondered.

Mr Malhotra said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his part was claiming that all his actions were in the national interest and his speech was interpreted by the Congress and the Left parties in their own manner. ''The country needs to know if the government wants to renegotiate the issue with the US for the best possible deal for the country,'' he added.

About the Government tabling the Justice Rajinder Sachar's Committee report on the status of Muslims in the country, Mr Malhotra said the UPA was using the panel for communalising every aspect of administration in the country doling out the logic issued prior to the country's partition on religious lines. The ruling Congress is only interested in luring the fast slipping Muslim votes by hook or crook and the Sachar Committee was one such effort, he alleged.

UNI