UPA playing to the tunes of US: Joshi

Nahan Dec 5 (UNI) Launching a scathing attack on the UPA led Congress Government at the Centre, former human resource development (HRD) minister Murli Manohar Joshi today accused it of playing to the tunes of the US over the nuclear deal.

Addressing a public meeting at Paonta Sahib, about 45 km from here, he said the UPA Government had mortgaged its national interests to the US, which was arm twisting it to sign the nuclear deal.

Mr Joshi said it was unfortunate that when the government was paying a sum of Rs 800 per quintal of wheat to the local farmers, it was purchasing sub standard wheat from foreign countries at Rs 1,400 per quintal.

If the government was willing to pay farmers that rate for wheat, there would be no need to import wheat from outside, he asserted.

He criticised the policies of the UPA Government at the Centre and said the prices of essential commodities had spiraled beyond the reach of the common man and widespread corruption had made the life of common man miserable.

Referring to the developmental activities in the state, he said it had come to a standstill due to the failure of the state government to take up the issue of financial aid and grants from the Centre.

UNI