Brajesh fell for UPA propaganda: BJP

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Monday dissociated itself from views expressed by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government’s national security advisor Brajesh Mishra on the Indo-US nuclear deal, alleging what he said was exactly what “very high emissaries” from government were trying to push for some time with BJP leaders to garner support for the deal.

“It seems Brajesh Mishra has accepted their arguments. The BJP has not,” said BJP Rajya Sabha MP Arun Shourie, replying to questions from journalists. Reasserting the party’s position on the issue, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh told journalists that the BJP was not embarrassed by Mishra’s statement favouring the deal.

“The past cannot answer for the present,” he said, adding, “the view of the party is as we have stated it.”

Explaining that the party’s statements on the nuclear deal were carefully discussed and drafted every time, Shourie said Mishra was also present in every meeting.

BJP’s opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal was reiterated in a statement from the main opposition party, detailing its stand on Nepal and Tibet too.

On Nepal, BJP expressed reservations about Maoists coming to power, while welcoming the restoration of democracy. “BJP is concerned about the track record of Maoists in view of attacks on Indians and Indian interests in Nepal, their leaders’ open warning to India, and violation of Indian borders by their cadres,” Singh said.

On Tibet, BJP castigated the government for capitulating to China and quarantining even parliament at the time of the Olympic torch relay. The statement said China must adhere to autonomy for Tibet.

s_rajesh@dnaindia.net