IndiaPost.com - UPA does not need any certificates of patriotism: Sonia to Left

NELLORE: Congress President Sonia Gandhi bluntly told the Left parties that the UPA government did not need any certificates of patriotism from any party.

In a strong rebuttal of the Left parties criticism on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said there was no question of compromising on the country's security interest, nuclear programme and foreign policy.

Apparently referring to the Left parties' allegation that the government was going against the country's interests, Gandhi said without naming any party that "We do not need any certificate from anybody else, from any party on our interests or our patriotism."

Strongly backing the prime minister, she said the country needs access to latest nuclear technology and fuel from other countries and asked how they could be faulted for trying to provide this to people. ".....Yet we are being accused of going against the interest of our country.

Let me state before you, before the whole country categorically. There is no question of compromising on our security interest, on our nuclear programme and our independent foreign policy," Gandhi said addressing a public meeting.

In the Congress Working Committee (CWC), she regretted the break up in ties with the Left parties but lately she appeared more direct in replying to their criticism on the deal. The UPA chairperson said through India there was need for access to the latest nuclear technology and fuel from other countries.

"And this is what we want to do for our people. And how can we be faulted for striving to provide all this for our people.

Yet, we are being accused of going against the interest of our country," she said. In her first remarks on the controversial pact after the Left parties withdrew support to UPA government last week, Gandhi defended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said posterity will recognize the value of the agreement and what the PM is doing now.

"I am sure the younger generation will definitely recognize the value of the agreement and what the Prime Minister is doing now," Gandhi said. The Indo-US nuclear deal is in "the best interests" of the country, Gandhi said, adding it was Congress which gave independence in foreign policy and which made India a "self-reliant" nation.

"The Congress party has been accused of compromising national interests...I want to tell you clearly that the Congress, which got independence and whose leaders, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, became martyrs' to the larger interest of the country, will never weaken the nation," Gandhi said.

The Congress President said if the country had nuclear fuel and technology "we can become no.1" in the country. Detailing about the nuclear deal, Gandhi said the government has drawn up an international agreement that will enable more number of nuclear power plants to be established in the country.