PM turns the tables on Cong. MP

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 7. The Prime Minister's reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha today on the Agra summit was not even half as long winded as that of the External Affairs Minister. Speaking extempore, a visibly relaxed Mr. Vajpayee made his point without being aggressive either to Pakistan or to the Opposition.

The proceedings began on a testy note with the Congress Deputy Leader, Mr. Madhavrao Scindia, joining issue with Mr. Jaswant Singh.

The Congress leader denied the latter's remark yesterday that he (Mr. Scindia) had during his speech subjected him to abuse.

Speaking just before the Prime Minister's speech, Mr. Scindia clarified that he had never abused a member during his career as a parliamentarian and it was never his intention to abuse Mr. Singh. ``I am pained that the Minister used that word. I never have and will never abuse a member.''

He also referred to remarks about his background pointing out that he had the privilege of having been elected an MP nine times and did not need to get into Parliament through the Rajya Sabha, a remark he later withdrew.

Reading from the official record of the debate, Mr. Scindia said that all he had said was ``the Government raved and ranted about cross-border terrorism, yet it sent the honourable Foreign Minister to escort terrorists to their freedom in Kandahar, we hung our heads in utter disbelief.'' He urged the Speaker to look up the records and ensure that the charges made against him were corrected.

The Prime Minister, during his speech, had some light- hearted exchanges with the Opposition and even while pulling the Congress MP, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyer's leg.

Mr. Vajpayee referred to the latter's remarks that the Government was inexperienced in handling important matters such as the summit and could perhaps do with some help from people like him (Mr. Aiyer) who had some experience in the matter having handled such issues earlier.

Turning to the Congress benches, Mr. Vajpayee said, ``Mr. Aiyer was right, we do not have much experience in such matters and should ourselves avail of his experience, but his own party doesn't seem to have too much faith in his abilities.''

``I look forward to benefiting from an exchange of views with him, I have admired the way he performed as Consul-General in Karachi, but what do I do, because everytime I invite the Congress for consultations he is not included in the delegation. When his own party doesn't consult him how can he complain that I do not avail myself of his experience?''

Even the Congress benches had a hearty laugh and Mr. Aiyer, normally never at a loss for words, shared the joke.

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