No compromise on n-deal, security, foreign policy:Sonia

Nellore, Potti Srimulu District Andhra Pradesh, Jul 17 (UNI) Hitting back at the Left parties who have withdrawn support to the United Progressive Alliance Government for allegedly compromising on national security by going ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal, UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi today asserted there was no question of compromising on the country's security, nuclear programme and foreign policy.

''The Left parties which have withdrawan support have accused us of going against the country's interest. Let me state before you, before the whole country categorically that there is no question of compromising on our security interest, on our nuclear programme and our independent foreign policy,'' Ms Gandhi said while addressing a well-attended public meeting here after launching the Arogyasree II, a health insurance scheme named after her husband.

Striking a hard note ahead of the vote of confidence on July 22, she said ''We do not not need any certificate from any party or anybody about our patriotism''. Maintaining that the country needed nuclear technology to meet the evergrowing power demand and remove power cuts ,she asserted ''The future generation will recognise the value of this agreement, value of what Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) is doing today.'' More UNI TEAM SM RP HT1948