The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday dubbed as somersault Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's "not the end of life" talk on the India-United States nuclear deal, alleging that the Congress has developed cold feet over the prospect of mid-term polls.
The Opposition party said it will "renegotiate" the civil nuclear deal with the US if it came to power and amend the anti-national clauses that were part of the controversial agreement.
"This government has become a government of U-turn. First the prime minister said the deal is non-negotiable. Then Sonia Gandhi dubbed those opposing the nuclear deal as enemies of development. The Congress and its leadership have now developed cold feet. They are afraid of losing polls and facing elections," senior party leader Venkaiah Naidu said, reacting to the prime minister and Congress chief's comments on snap polls.
The Congress, including its chief and the prime minister, had staked their prestige on the deal and now "they have made a somersault", he said, adding the people of the country will ensure that this government is a government of no return.
"Sonia Gandhi some days ago called those opposing the deal as enemies of development. What transpired in the last two days that she had to change her tone. The nation needs to know the truth," he said.
Naidu also asked the Congress to take into confidence its friends (mitrapaksh) before training guns at its enemies (shatrupaksh).
