Launching a blistering attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who returned from the G-8 summit in the wee hours of Thursday morning, the Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that the prime minister has misled the nation.
M A Naqvi, commenting upon a news item in leading national newspapers that nuclear deal has started rolling soon after Dr Singh's meeting with Presidnt George Bush on July 9, said, "The news item is clear that while the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had been telling the nation that nothing would be done before the government seeks a vote of confidence, we now know that the papers relating to nuclear deal have already been passed on to the board of the IAEA," Naqvi told rediff.com.
The National Democratic Alliance had met at the residence of prime ministerial candidate Lal Kishenchand Advani on Wednesday evening where they failed to get a categorical assurance from Shiromani Akali Dal on whether they would go along with the NDA and vote against the government.
"Dhindsaji said that a final decision would be taken at the core committee meeting of the party in Chandigarh on July 15, not much should be read into it," said another BJP leader.
After Thursday's development the party top brass will meet and decide whether they should meet President Pratibha Patil and draw her attention on the latest developments.
The BJP felt that all sorts of games are being played to get the deal through.
Meanwhile, the Congress has denied that they have misled the nation.
Dr Singh is expected to meet the President later in the day and explain his position.