NEW DELHI: At a time when it is having to fend off “surrender” charges from its allies – especially from the Left – the Manmohan Singh government’s decision to vote against Iran for nuclear proliferation has been endorsed by the BJP. Though the BJP criticized the government for “mismanaging” country’s vote at the IAEA, it, however, supported the vote against Iran.

Stressing the Pakistan dimension to issue, the party said: “India can clearly neither ignore nor minimise the strategic implications and adverse consequences of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

“It was, therefore, patently in India’s interest to have been in the forefront of the vast majority of the international community questioning the many clandestine devices through which technology and material have been transferred to Iran from Pakistan and several other countries.”

A statement issued by the party continued: “These acquisitions are in clear violation of the obligations and commitments under the NPT, plus all related safeguard provisions of it.” But the support can scarcely bring any political comfort to the government.

As a matter of fact, BJP’s decision coincides with Samajwadi Party’s manoeuvres to portray the vote against Iran as an anti-Muslim measure, and may be seized upon by UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh to put government in political dock.

Government spent last week countering charge that it did not act strongly and promptly enough on the issue of publication of the Holy Prophet’s cartoons.—By arrangement with The Times of India