By IANS,
New Delhi : In a seeming setback to the developing Congress-Samajwadi Party ties, a coalition of regional parties Thursday demanded an independent body to examine “doubts” over the India-US nuclear deal.
Speaking to reporters after a nearly four-hour meeting, leaders of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) including the Samajwadi Party said they remained opposed to the Congress-led government on many issues such as soaring food prices and agricultural policies.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Om Prakash Chautala and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu repeatedly insisted that they were a united lot — a far cry from the divisions staring it in the wake of the Samajwadi Party’s decision to bail out the government on the nuclear deal.
“Till July 6, we are not giving certificate to the government. There should be a national debate on the issue,” former Haryana chief minister Chautala said after the meeting held at Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh’s residence. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaves around July 6 for Japan to attend the G8 summit where he is expected to meet US President George Bush.