Buddha slams BJP in House

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday used the unofficial resolution moved by a CPI(M) member in the state Assembly for a damage control of sorts by attacking the BJP, saying it was pretending to be a “saint” by opposing the deal.

“It was the BJP which initiated the talks with the US for a new strategic alliance when it was in power. Now, the BJP is opposing the deal to topple the Government. They are opposing it just for the sake of opposing,” said Bhattachajree seeking to make a qualitative difference between the Left opposition and the BJP opposition to the deal. “When we saw the NDA prime minister and the foreign minister visiting the Pentagon, we realised something dangerous was happening,” he added.

The CM went on to attack the Congress and defended CPI(M) party general secretary Prakash Karat’s decision to withdraw support to the UPA Government. “It is our misfortune that the Congress followed the BJP line and pursued the deal,” he told the members. The opposition Congress and the Trinamool Congress walked out as the resolution was tabled.

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The CM said after the UPA Government took office, the CPI(M) began to realise that it would bow to US hegemony. “Today, our fears have come true,” the CM said.

He said the Left’s understanding of the deal is that India would not get an assured supply of nuclear fuel and technology but would have to depend on the whims of the US.