Advani slams UPA-Left committee

Stepping up the attack on the nuclear deal, leader of the Opposition L K Advani today said the UPA-Left committee was an 8220;insult8221; to Parliament

Stepping up the attack on the nuclear deal, leader of the Opposition L K Advani today said the UPA-Left committee was an 8220;insult8221; to Parliament, and urged the government to 8220;recognise the perilous path on which they are obstinately set8221;.

Not satisfied by the Government8217;s explanation that the committee was an 8220;internal political mechanism8221; of the ruling coalition, the Opposition disrupted the proceedings of the House.

Addressing a press conference, Advani said the Government also rejected the NDA8217;s demands for a Joint Parliamentary Committee JPC and amendment of the Constitution for ratification of international agreements by Parliament. Reading out a statement titled 8220;Indo-US nuclear agreement hijacked,8221; Advani said that setting-up of the committee was a 8220;deliberate and blatant violation8221; of the Parliament8217;s rights, prerogatives and privileges.

8220;This setting-up of a private committee is a total negation of the Opposition8217;s rights and role in Parliament. It trivialises the high importance of a vital national issue impacting on our national security and the country8217;s strategic autonomy for the next half century,8221; said the BJP leader.

Accusing the government of 8220;voluntarily handing over8221; decision-making to the CPIM and the Left Front, Advani said: 8220;There is now apparently no Central Government effectively holding the reins of office, the Communists have been handed over power to decide the future of India without any responsibility.8221;

Advani said 8220;this abdication by the Government, of its responsibility is a betrayal of their oath8221; and described the alliance between the Congress and Left as 8220;most opportunistic8221;. The BJP leader said that in the name of energy security, the Government should not 8220;jeopardise the national security8221;. He said the Congress-Left committee has not only bypassed Parliament, but also insulted it. 8220;They Government cannot treat important national issue as a private matter between the Left and the Congress,8221; he said. Responding to a question, Advani said, 8220;the UNPA has always been supporting us8221;.

NDA convenor George Fernandes, senior BJP leaders Jaswant Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete, BJD leader Brajakishore Tripathi and Sharad Joshi Swatantra Bharat Paksh also attended the press conference.