BJP to join debate on N-deal in Parliament

NEW DELHI: The CPI on Thursday appealed to the main opposition BJP to join a debate on the Indo-US-Nuclear deal in the Winter Session of Parliament, commencing on November 15, and reiterated that the deal was not in national interest and the US intention was to make India a strategic partner and military ally.
  
''We appeal to the BJP to put forward its view point during the debate, rather than staying out and holding up the debate,'' said CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan.
  
At the end of the two-day 131-member National Council, preceded by a day-long National Executive, Mr Bardhan stressed that the sense of the House was as good as voting.
  
The CPI leader, accompanied by his party colleague D Raja, said ''If the majority of the MPs are against the deal, the sense of the House be taken into account by the government, while reminding that the US multinational corporations and the military-industrial  complexes are looking at India as lucrative market for nuclear  reactors, technology and warplanes and other arms.''
  
''From 123 agreement, they look forward to 126 aircraft deal,'' said the veteran Communist adding that the Left parties have been insisting as a democratic country that the matter should be debated in Parliament and the sense of the House should be taken into account by the Government.
  
The party took a positive note of the stand taken by the TDP and the Samajwadi Party about a debate in Parliament so as to ascertain the sense of the House on the nuke deal.
  
The BJP and the UNPA, earlier insisted on setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee on the deal, but they now seem to have foresaken this demand and are willing to participate in the debate.