The Hindu : Explain PM's offer of talks, say LS members

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 01, 2003

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National

Explain PM's offer of talks, say LS members

By Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI APRIL 30. Members of the Lok Sabha, from both the Opposition and the NDA benches, today said the Government should inform the House of the circumstances that had prompted the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to extend an olive branch to Pakistan and the parameters for the talks.

With the passage of the Finance Bill being the main business of the day, no statement was forthcoming from the Government, though the matter was brought up twice. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, assured the House that she would communicate the members' sentiments to the Prime Minister.

The issue was raised by Prabhunath Singh (Samata Party) as soon as the House met for the day. His apprehension was that whenever India extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan it was spurned; "the Prime Minister's Lahore visit was followed up with Kargil and the Agra summit, with the attack on Parliament''.

Referring to the Government's earlier stance that negotiations would be possible only if Pakistan stopped aiding and abetting terrorism, Mr. Singh wanted to know what had changed on the ground for Mr. Vajpayee to make the offer.

Mr. Singh found considerable support from the Opposition, with Ramji Lal Suman of the SP saying that the Government ought to take the House into confidence. Joining in, Jaipal Reddy of the Congress said the varying statements from the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson had created a lot of confusion.

Even as the Shiv Sena members maintained a steady chorus of protest — questioning the rationale for extending a hand of friendship to Pakistan — the other members who demanded a statement from the Government clarified that they were not opposed to talks with Pakistan. Their contention was that the Government should tread cautiously and do the spadework for talks so that the Agra experience was not repeated.

Though the members were keen on a detailed discussion on the issue rightaway, the Speaker, Manohar Joshi, refused to give in. Later, during the post-lunch session, a second attempt was made by some members to press for a statement from the Prime Minister; again in vain.

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