The BJP on Wednesday rubbished speculations that ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) may support the UPA government in the event of a floor test, saying that it is a part of the NDA.
"Moreover, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal himself had clarified that his party would go with the collective stand of NDA (in case of a floor test)", senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia on Wednesday, also a cabinet minister, told reporters in Jalandhar.
On the nuclear deal, he said, "it is good for the country. But some clauses should be amended in the draft to protect the sovereignty of the country, particularly with regard to independent foreign policy."
All issues could be discussed in parliament, he said adding, "as far as Left parties' stand is concerned, it is wrong."
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Umrao Singh asked the chief minister to back the nuclear deal instead of "blindly" toeing the line of NDA.
Singh, also a former chief minister, said the "deal is in the interest of the nation and SAD should not oppose it. How can it play a role against the country's first Sikh prime minister?"
{{/usCountry}}Singh, also a former chief minister, said the "deal is in the interest of the nation and SAD should not oppose it. How can it play a role against the country's first Sikh prime minister?"
{{/usCountry}}Backing the deal he said power shortage in the state can be tackled through nuclear energy as there are no initiatives to install hydro or coal-based plants.
Sikhs living abroad also are lobbying for the Indo-US nuclear deal, Singh said and rubbished the claims of Left parties that country's sovereignty and foreign policy could be compromised by the agreement.