Pranab: no compromise on independent foreign policy
NEW DELHI: Sent in first to defend the government during the
trust vote, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday flayed
Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani's "inquest" on the performance of
the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), while urging the Left parties not
to strengthen saffron forces by joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP).
Likening the clearances from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
and Nuclear Suppliers Group to a "passport and visa," the Minister
sought support to acquire these.
"Then we will decide if we should travel and with whom," he said;
pointing out that India would not be able to access nuclear commerce -
even with friends like Russia and France - without the nuclear deal with
the United States.
Admitting to prescriptive provisions in the Hyde Act that were
unacceptable to India, he said: "We can never compromise on our
independent foreign policy" and added that there was no mention of it in
the 123 Agreement.
-The Hindu |
