BJP criticises government for Iran vote

Rajnath Singh criticised the government for voting last week to refer Iran's nuclear case to the UNSC.

BJP president Rajnath Singh on Thursday criticised the government for voting last week to refer Iran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council, saying the move was influenced by the US pressure.

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"It is quite apparent that India's current policy is heavily influenced by the US," Singh told a press conference in Lucknow on his first visit after taking over as party chief last month.

At a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Saturday, India voted in favour of a resolution reporting Iran to the UN Security Council.

India, at the same time, also repeated its commitment to "close and friendly ties" with Tehran and supported its right to civilian nuclear energy.

Singh praised Iran for "always supporting India", adding: "Even when Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue at the meet of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Iran boldly opposed the move."

It was, therefore, all the more unfair on India's part to assume such a stand towards Iran, he said.

"I demand that the UPA government must disclose the reasons for its anti-Iran vote. The government needs to share the same with parliament too," he said.