New Delhi, March 3
The Lok Sabha today witnessed a debate on the Presidential address to the joint session of Parliament, as BJP leader LK Advani managed to fluster a usually reticent Prime Minister, provoking him into two interventions.
The debate was the first serious business of the day after the House reassembled at 2 pm, post two adjournments on the price-rise issue. The proceedings, however, stood transformed into a war of words between the two stalwarts, who have had a history of confrontation.
Post Holi, however, the PM seemed in a mood to surprise all. So he did, when he broke his silence today to vehemently reject Advani’s suggestion that the recent Indo-Pak Foreign-Secretary level talks happened under US pressure.
The acting NDA chairman cited documents to show how the Indo-Pak “proximity” suited the US interest, how the road to Kabul went through Kashmir. He referred to US president Obama’s offer to resolve the Kashmir issue and insinuated that the UPA was working on a secret compromise on Kashmir.
“If this happens, consequences will be disastrous. We demand that all unofficial and official talks on Kashmir be made public,” Advani said, sending the treasury benches into a frenzy, with MPs led by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi demanding that the said remark be expunged, as it amounted to doubting the intentions of Prime Minister.
The latter, however, stood his ground, reiterating that there had been no change in the US policy towards India and Pakistan. “I feel sorry that you are using the forum of debate to sow seeds of doubt. What you are attributing to President Obama is certainly not true. I have had several discussions with him and there is no change in the US policy,” he told the former Leader of Opposition.
