New Delhi, June 16: Congress today made it clear that there was no "dilution or alteration" in its stand on the issue of deployment of Indian troops in Iraq but stated that it was for the government to explore possibility of a consensus on the matter. "There is no alteration or dilution in our stand. We are sticking to the position stated by party president Sonia Gandhi in her letter to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee opposing deployment of Indian troops in Iraq under any arrangement other than UN," party spokesman s Jaipal Reddy told reporters.
He said Gandhi, who was invited for talks on the issue yesterday, had suggested holding talks with other political parties as also neighbouring states of Iraq to "know the pulse of that region" on the important and sensitive matter. Asked why the main opposition party suggested the government on talks with neighbouring states of Iraq, Reddy said because India enjoys friendly relations with them and their views would help India to shape its view point.
To a pointed question whether a consensus was possible or not, the chief spokesman of the party said, “We have made our stand known. It is for the government to explore such possibility." On the reported statement of US ambassador to India Robert Blackwill's that Indian forces, if deployed in Iraq would be under Indian flag, Reddy said he was not aware about such statement. Bureau Report