New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on April 23 night rejected the Opposition charge that government was acting under US pressure on the foreign policy front but said "compulsive hostility" towards Washington was not suited to India's national interest.

"India does not act under pressure from any country and we will not be cowed down," he said while replying to a debate on demands for grants of the External Affairs Ministry in the Lok Sabha which was later adopted by voice vote.

"Without compromising on anything... national interest and principles…if we can build a great relationship with US, we will try and do so," Sinha said.

"Compulsive hostility to the US is a baggage we should leave behind," he said, adding that "this is not suited to our national interest."

The minister, who dwelt on India's growing relationships with China, Russia, neighbouring countries, European Union, Africa, Latin America, Central Asia and Japan, said in the past, India had focussed more on differences with the US rather than commonalities.

The Vajpayee government was building a strong relationship with Washington based more on commonalities although differences still persisted on some issues including Iraq, he said.

Countering the Opposition charge, Sinha asked, "Did we carry out our nuclear tests in May 1998 or the missile tests under US pressure?"

PTI