'BJP, Lefts' opposition to N-deal not on same lines'

HYDERABAD: There is a qualitative difference in the opposition of the BJP and the Left Parties to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday.

"The Left opposes the deal because they are anti-US always. But we are not against America. Our opposition is not to the deal itself, but against the contents of the agreement which gives upper hand to America. Under Hyde Act, the US President can recall the fuel supply to India under certain circumstances," he told here.
   
"There is so much to hide in Hyde Act," he said.

Naidu alleged that the UPA government has 'surrendered' to the US over the nuclear deal. "Every country has the sovereign right. But, the UPA has surrendered itself to America. The Hyde Act contains many hidden provisions."

In contrast, the NDA government went ahead with the Pokhran-II nuclear test despite the threat of sanctions, he said.

Criticising the Prime Minister, he said Manmohan Singh castigated the NDA government for conducting the nuclear test. "The Left as usual criticised us".

"It was not just conducting the nuclear test. The NDA government successfully withstood American sanctions, domestic and international criticism. We re-established friendly relations with US too," Naidu added.