Mayawati says UPA should end negotiations on US-India nuke deal

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said on Monday that the UPA should suspend further action on the US-India civilian nuclear cooperation agreement and leave it for the next government to finalise it.

New Delhi, July 22 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said on Monday that the UPA should suspend further action on the US-India civilian nuclear cooperation agreement and leave it for the next government to finalise it.

Claiming that the deal was a step to make India a "slave" of the United States, she said the country should hold its head high to safeguard its interests.

"The Government and the Prime Minister should not make the deal a prestige issue. They should suspend the deal for the time being. Elections are near. Let the next government take a decision on it," she told a press conference in New Delhi.

She noted that the deal would also "hamper" the USD 7.4 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project as the US was acting against Tehran in a "dangerous" manner.

"The whole world have to face the consequences of a nuclear war between US and Iran and the blame for which will fall on the UPA government if it goes ahead with the deal," Mayawati said.

Holding the UPA and Congress "guilty" for going ahead with the deal, she said New Delhi should assert itself for a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.

Asked whether the anti-Government side has enough numbers to topple the UPA, she said, "wait till tomorrow, you will come to know."

However, Mayawati refused to comment on the allegations made by Samajwadi Party leaders that the BSP was using money power to get MPs from other parties.

On Advani's comment that she will not become Prime Minister, the BSP chief said, "I don't take note of useless talks."

ANI