Govt has no more authority to go ahead with nuclear deal: BJP

NEW DELHI: Opposition BJP today said the government has lost its moral and political authority to go ahead with the Indo-US nuclear after the Left's decision to withdraw support to the UPA.

"The BJP believes that a minority government does not have either the political or moral legitimacy to go ahead with a major international agreement," party spokesperson Ravi Shanker Prasad told reporters here today.

The BJP has taken note of the Prime Minister's statement yesterday that he would follow all parliamentary norms. This enjoins upon him the obligation not to go ahead with the next steps to conclude the Indo-US nuclear deal, he added.

The party also demanded that the government convene an emergency session of Parliament to seek a vote of confidence.

"The BJP demands that an emergency session of Parliament be convened immediately. The question whether the government enjoys majority support must be ascertained on the floor of the House, and in no other manner," Prasad said in a statement.

The office bearers of the BJP which held a meeting here led by party chief Rajnath Singh in the residence of senior party leader L K Advani sought to allege the UPA government of "failing miserably" in governance.

"The UPA has failed miserably to provide the governance and stability that the country needs. No government has undermined institutions and norms, no government has bent to foreign powers as has this government," the release added.