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BJP wants good ties with US, Advani tells Rice
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October 04, 2008 22:17 IST

Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani [Images] on Saturday reportedly told United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice [Images] that his party wanted best of relations with the US, but opposed the nuclear deal after the Hyde Act was passed, as it closed India's strategic options.

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"Advani told Rice that the BJP developed strong objections to this present treaty only after the Hyde Act was passed because we believe that it impairs our nuclear programme and we cannot have co-operation at the cost of closing our strategic options," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told PTI.

Advani accused the government of assuring the BJP that the Hyde Act will not be applied but now it is clear that it applies, Javadekar said.

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"Promises by the Indian government have fallen flat. Now we learn that after the passage of 123 Agreement, President George Bush [Images] will certify to the Congress and Senate that 123 Agreement is in consonance with provisions of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty," Advani told Rice.

The senior BJP leader said this was the reason for BJP's objection to the deal but added that he wanted co-operation and strategic relationship with the US in future.

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"Advani told Rice that BJP wants the best of relations between the two largest democracies of the world. Despite Pokharan II and sanctions by the US, relations between the two countries improved within a year and remained the best for the next five years," Javadekar said.

Advani also raised the issue of Modi's visa.

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He is reported to have asked Rice how the US State Department had issued a clarification that he will not be given visa without Modi even applying for it.

"Though granting visa is the right of any sovereign nation it should not ban any elected chief minister of a democratic country," Advani said.

Javadekar said Rice asked the officials accompanying her to get further details on the issue.


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