New Delhi, October 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party has reacted sharply to Congress president Sonia Gandhi's statement describing those opposing the nuclear deal as anti-development. BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar said the party condemned Gandhi's statement calling those who oppose the n-deal and present alignment of Setu Samundaram Project as enemies of development and peace.

“It is not only arrogance but statement smacks of intolerance and dictatorial tendencies. This is precisely the Congress's character: to call those opposed to their policies as the forces opposing the country's progress. Actually, it is the Congress, which has halted the progress of the country by slowing down on various development initiatives of the NDA like North-South and East-West corridor and River Linking Project,” he said.

Javdekar reiterated the BJP's opposition to the nuclear deal as “strategic subservience to US foreign policy.” “Nation has not approved the proposed deal. The majority in Parliament is opposing this deal and Government has not addressed any of the concerns raised by Opposition parties. If the deal is about energy security, the Government must reveal the costs involved. 35,000 MW of electricity over a period of 30 years at the investment of $50bn (Rs 2 Lakh crore) is not in the interest of the country," he said adding that the nuclear power at Rs 15 per unit will not help solve energy crisis.

BJP said the Congress has not only hurt the religious sentiments of the people but is bent upon blowing up the Ram Sethu. The party demanded that the Government should unequivocally declare that it would complete the project with other alignment and not by cutting through Ram Sethu.