Indo-US nuke deal: BJP for strategic partnership not subservience

Bangalore, Sep 13 (UNI) Distancing itself from the Left parties' opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal, the BJP today said it was for friendly relations with the US but wanted a strategic partnership not strategic subservience.

In a political resolution adopted by the BJP national executive here, the party accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of misleading and misrepresenting the political parties and Parliament regarding the N-tests as revealed by the letter of US President George Bush to Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee of the US Congress.

''All assurances regarding 'assured fuel supply' and transfer of technology are patently misleading'', the resolution adopted by the party said.

Although the PM had told Parliament that the US will not be allowed to inspect nuclear facilities in India, it was allowed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through a provision in the 123 agreement, BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said while briefing newspersons after the executive adopted the resolution moved by Ravishankar Prasad.

The resolution was seconded by former Union Minister Arun Shourie, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Chaman Lal and Sofi Yusaf of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Kumar said if the the US were to withdraw nuclear fuel and equipment supply to India in the event of India conducting tests due to pressure from its nuclear neighbours -- China and Pakistan, other NSG countries would follow the US.

The US was also maintaining ... picking up from para seven, line one of DR22 POLITICS-BJP EXECUTIVE-NUCLEAR.

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