CPI(M) pledges to ''unmask'' BJP in Parliament

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) Vowing to ''unmask'' the BJP in both Houses of Parliament on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the CPI(M) today alleged the main opposition party was not performing its role of pinning down the government on the accord and also ignoring a host of other urgent issues of the public interest.

At a news conference, CPI(M) floor leaders in the Lok Sabha Mohammad Salim and Rup Chand Pal said they never understood why the BJP made a hue and cry on the floor of the Houses only and not take to the streets on the issues of the public interest.

The CPI(M) leaders, however, denied that the Left was trying to usurp the ''political space'' of the main opposition party.

''We are occupying our own right place, but the problem is that the BJP is not doing anything to pin down the government and rather is helping it avoid discussion on several issues -- price rise, the Sachar Committee, farmers' suicides and joint naval exercises, among others, '' they alleged.

Later, Mr Salim told UNI that ''indeed, the BJP was trying to shy away from a meaningful debate on the floor of the House in the Lok Sabha as it lacks arguments, conviction, consistency and quality leaders who can speak on foreign policy issues''.

The CPI(M) leaders said the BJP was in a great dilemma on the nuclear deal. ''They( BJP) neither want to oppose nor support the pact on record. Please show us any document where they have opposed the deal. And it is nothing new that the BJP is trying to force the sine die adjournment of Parliament,'' they added.

''Earlier on three occasions also in the 14th Lok Sabha, it has played this trick. Please remember on one occasion even the budget was passed without discussion,'' they added.

On the BJP's ''insistence'' on disruption of the proceedings of both Houses to press for its demand for a JPC to go into the deal, the comrades said, '' We are trying to give the right kind of advice to the BJP that first it should come out with a collective party position.'' Elaborating, he said the BJP lacked a cohesive thinking on the issue as a result of which its leaders -- be it Mr Jaswant Singh, Mr Arun Jaitley, Ms Sushma Swaraj or Mr L K Advani -- were singing different tunes on the issue.

Stating that it was not something new for the BJP to indulge in doublespeak, he recalled how the saffron party showed its ''true colours'' on GATT and WTO and even sacrificed its own outfit -- the Swadeshi Jagran Manch. ''The NDA finished this outfit.'' To a specific query pertaining to the ''real danger'' to the very survival of the UPA government, as being reported widely in view of adamant positions taken by the government and the Left parties on the pact, Mr Salim gave advice to scribes,'' please don't jump the gun.'' The Left leader's remark came when his attention was drawn to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's reported statement that the UPA-Left panel on the issue was an ''internal arrangement, essential for the continuation of the government''.

When asked for their reaction to the UNPA support for the BJP's demand for a JPC on the deal, the communists said every political party had the right to demand or respond to a certain situation.

''We have good relations with them, and intend to continue to have the same in the future too,'' they added.

UNI