Monday, February 20 2006 10:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ludhiana: Stating that the country could not afford to have a nuclear power in its neighbourhood, senior Bhartiya Janata Party leader and party vice president Shanta Kumar yesterday (Feb 19,2006) defended the party's support to the Government on the Iran issue.

"This decision was taken in the best interest of the nation", he said.

In his address to a public rally here, the BJP leader criticised the Congress led United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government at the Centre for its alleged failure on other fronts, particularly to contain rising prices.

He said he regretted that even though the Prime Minister was one of the country's best economists and the Leftists claimed to be champions of the poor and the downtrodden, the weaker sections of the society were the worst hit by rising prices.

The BJP leader also asserted that his party had not given up the Hindutva agenda and the issue of nationalism.

He maintained that since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government comprised of many parties, the BJP could not push forward with the Hindutva agenda.