The state of Indian Politics
: How ridiculous does this sound?


Indian PM says opposition prayed for his death

NEW DELHI (AFP) - India's embattled Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, under fire over a civilian nuclear deal with Washington, says the opposition performed religious rituals for his demise.

Singh told India Today weekly news magazine in comments published on the weekend that he was disappointed with the Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) over its reaction to the deal.

"They didn't even believe that I would last the prime minister and some leaders even did havans (Hindu rituals) that I should die on a certain day," Singh told the magazine.

"It (the agreement) requires a big leap in approach and the attitude of BJP is disappointing."
Singh gave the interview in June with the understanding that it would be published only after the Indo-US agreement was reached.

Singh has drawn heavy criticism from both the opposition and the government's communist allies over the pact that was clinched last month.

The agreement seeks to permit New Delhi to buy atomic fuel, technology and plants even though it is not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but critics say it would limit India's strategic options.

The main opposition BJP swiftly demanded an apology from Singh.
"We cannot believe that a prime minister can make such comments.... It's appalling," senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra said late Friday.

"Havans are organised for the well-being and not to pray for somebody's death.... He owes an apology to the nation for such ridiculous comments," the BJP lawmaker told reporters.

On Friday, the Indian parliament erupted in furore after former defence minister George Fernandes accused Singh of misleading the country over terms of the deal and said if it had happened in China the premier would have received a "bullet in his head."