
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh8217;s remarks that the people of the country 8220;deeply love8221; US President George W Bush on Friday drew strong reactions from the Opposition BJP and the Left. While the BJP condemned the remarks as sycophancy, the Left termed them 8220;unbecoming of his office8221;.
The BJP said the PM should not to be carried away by the charm of Bush. 8220;Diplomacy should not be carried to the extent of sycophancy. The fact remains that the country is divided on the n-deal,8221; BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, CPIM General Secretary Prakash Karat said, 8220;Everybody knows that the PM loves President Bush. But why should he bring the people of India in it.8221;
The ruling Congress, meanwhile, saw 8220;nothing wrong8221; in the PM8217;s remark but was non-committal on the party8217;s stance on whether it endorsed the PM8217;s views. 8220;What is wrong in it? India does not believe in hate culture,8221; AICC media cell chairperson M Veerappa Moily said at a press briefing.
Faced with a barrage of questions on whether the Congress believes that the people of India love Bush, a visibly exasperated Moily shot back, 8220;If the people of India love him, the Congress loves him, the BJP loves him and the NDA loves him.8221;
CPI National Secretary D Raja said the PM8217;s comments 8220;do not augur well8221; for his position.