BJP to raise Scorpene deal, n-pact in Parliament

Main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday decided to vociferously raise the controversial Scorpene submarine deal and the Indo-US nuclear pact during the current session of Parliament.

The party will also highlight in the coming days the hardships caused to common people because of inflation, senior BJP leader V K Malhotra told reporters in New Delhi while briefing on the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting chaired by Leader of the Opposition L K Advani.

Another issue that the BJP will seek to raise is the ongoing demolition drive in the national capital, Malhotra said, adding that if the House was stalled, the onus will be on the government and not his party.

He said while the government had condemned the caricature of Prophet Mohammed as objectionable, it had not sought to assuage the feelings of Hindus who are hurt over paintings, which allegedly denigrated Hindu goddesses and described M F Hussain as a 'pervert painter'.

He also said that during French President Jacues Chirac's meeting with Advani, the latter had raised the issue of wearing of turbans by school children in France. Chirac assured him that he will take whatever steps were necessary.