BJP resents Left comments on foreign policy

The BJP national executive today cleared a resolution on foreign policy which deplored the fact that "comments on foreign policy are mostly being made by non-political executive". This was a reference to the Left.

Party leader Jaswant Singh said foreign policy in India was not being run by consensus as in the past.

"Who is managing foreign policy is not clear. The differences between the CPI(M) and the Congress appear irreconcilable. This is not the way to run foreign policy," he said.

The three page resolution was severe on Indo-US relations, particularly before a possible visit by US President George W Bush.

"With the UPA government's obsequious policies towards the US, there is every apprehension of Indo-US relations slipping into an 'asymmetry,' thus damaging the long-term prospects of friendship and co-operation between the two countries."

"It is a serious matter that the US and NATO troops are present in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Gulf countries," said Jaswant Singh. At this time if India does not stand its ground, he added, it would not portend well for Indo-US friendship.

The resolution also goes into detail about several US think-tanks floating a proposal that there should be the establishment of something called the "United States of Kashmir" whose sovereignty shall be shared by India and Pakistan. The resolution accuses the UPA government of tacitly giving an impression that it is not averse to discuss this.

On Nepal, the BJP says that it has always supported the "twin pillars of policy" : a stable democracy and a constitutional monarchy, thus giving a shot in the arm to King Gyanendra.

They exhorted the UPA government to "explicitly state its policy and approach." Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said that questions of foreign policy were becoming more and more difficult and vexing. Referring to Indo-Pak relations, Vajpayee said that that the two countries required a policy which recognised friendship and caution as its two pillars.