Monday, February 27 2006 16:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Arraigning the Government for "betraying" Iran by voting against it at IAEA, CPI, an ally, today (Feb 27 2006) accused it in Lok Sabha of "bending" to US "pressures" while BJP dubbed it as a "camp follower" of the Americans.

Rejecting the charge, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee made it clear that foreign policies pursued by the Government were in "enlightened national interest" and said India "recognises and values" its friendship with Iran.

C K Chandrappan, CPI, said India has "betrayed a country which has stood by it like a rock." Terming India's vote in IAEA as a "shameful episode", he hoped this would be put behind when the issue comes up on March 6 and it would abstain.

Criticising the Government for coming out with "knee-jerk" responses, B K Khanduri, BJP, said it had not held any consultations with political parties and there was no planning before its decision.

Intervening in a discussion on India's vote at IAEA on Iran issue, Mukherjee emphatically stated that India will have "credible deterrent" as a nuclear weapon state while not giving up the path of non-proliferation.

He said India has no intention of signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "It is a fraud treaty and discriminatory."

On Iran's nuclear programme, he said as a signatory to the NPT, Iran has every right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy consistent with its international commitments and obligations.

At the same time, it was incumbent upon Iran to exercise these rights in the context of safeguards that it has voluntarily accepted upon its nuclear programme under the IAEA, he said.

Both Chandrappan and Khanduri came out strongly against comments made by US Ambassador David Mulford in a recent interview to sources.

While Chandrappan questioned Government's silence on the issue, Khanduri criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for merely stating "to err is human" when questioned about Mulford's remarks.

Mulford had made it clear in the interview that if India did not vote against Iran, the Indo-US nuclear deal will "die" in the US Congress.

Mukherjee said Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed had recently met Iranian leadership in Tehran to affirm India's strong and abiding commitment to "most friendly and mutually beneficial" relations with Iran. Ahamed had also explained the backdrop to India's decision at the IAEA.

He asked members not to be hyperbolic or indulge in rhetoric while dealing with the sensitive issue of Iran.

Contending that the policies pursued by Government were in "enlightened national interest", the Minister said the Iran issue should be dealt with "calm", "more time and patience" and "reasoned diplomacy" and not with a confrontationist approach.