 NEW DELHI: The Indian opposition, ruling alliance partners and Left parties asked the government on Monday to show the door to United States Ambassador David Mulford for interfering in the countryÂ’s internal matters. Mulford had sent a letter to the West Bengal chief minister calling on him to stand down from his anti-US stances and accept foreign direct investment in the retail trade.
| Give them a Wal-Mart. Good idea. |
How can an American official direct an Indian chief minister, asked the angry members. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee advised the members to “maintain dignity” and not accuse the government of “surrendering”.
| Maybe you should spend less time being dignified and more time being productive. |
CPI (M) group leader Basudeb Acharia raised the issue and BJP, Shiv Sena, Janata Dal (U), Akali Dal, Biju Janata Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party agreed that the ambassador had transgressed diplomatic etiquette by advising the chief minister. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi said that he would convey the membersÂ’ concern to the prime minister and asserted that the government had never compromised upon national dignity. However, the leftists staged a walk out, saying they were not satisfied with the governmentÂ’s response. No other opposition party joined them. |