With Antony’s clarification, issue is closed: BJP

Aug 08, 2013 |

New Delhi

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BJP Thursday said after defence minister A.K. Antony’s clarification on the killing of Indian soldiers along the LoC, the issue is closed but maintained that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should not hold talks with his Pakistan counterpart during his US visit.

“As a responsible Opposition, it is our duty to bring the government back on track when it gets derailed. We have only played our role. The defence minister’s mistake would have been harmful for the nation. There is no question of giving any benefit of doubt to Pakistan,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

Hussain said for his party the issue regarding contradictory statements by Antony and the Army has ended after the defence minister’s clarification Thursday.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj echoed her views. “I am happy with today’s statement of the defence minister. Let us deal with terror first. We will talk later,” Swaraj said on Twitter.

BJP is still firm that the Prime Minister should not hold talks with Sharif during his forthcoming visit to US for the UN General Assembly meeting.

The main Opposition had made this clear at a meeting between the Prime Minister and its top brass Wednesday.

Hussain also demanded that a structured debate should be held in Parliament on the infiltrations from Pakistan and the continued support to terrorism against India from its soil.

Meanwhile, BJP slammed Bihar Panchayati Raj minister Bhim Singh for his reported remarks that people join the Army to get martyred.

“Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar should sack him. An apology from him is not enough,” Hussain said.

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