Nobody can advise India on its foreign policy: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday hailed Iranian President Ahmedinejad's forthcoming visit to India and sought to disapprove the advice of the United States to New Delhi on conducting bilateral relations with Tehran.

"Nobody can advise India on its foreign policy which is decided at New Delhi by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with inputs and assistance from Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee," party spokesman Shakil Ahmed told reporters.

Asked whether his statement was a snub to the US for its advice, he said "we don't believe in snubbing anybody" and India and Iran have been "mature" nations to discuss issues among themselves.

Dismissing suggestions that there was a shift in Congress' policy towards Iran, he said there were friendly relations between New Delhi and Tehran at the government and people-to-people levels. Ahmed said during his visit the Iranian leader would be meeting President Pratibha Patil as also the Prime Minister.

The AICC's statement came on a day when the Left parties stepped up attack on the US for its advice and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee asked Washington not not to take the responsibility of deciding if Iran was manufacturing nuclear weapons.

Earlier the US State Department had remarked that Washington expected India to tell Iranian President to meet the UN Security Council resolution on its nuclear programme.