George backtracks on safe passage

He also denied any difference of opinion or misunderstanding between him, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister about the involvement of the Pakistani Government and the ISI in Kargil developments.

8220;There is no question of my exonerating the ISI for anything. I did make a point that these hostilities were conceived, planned and executed by the Army. Naturally when the Armygets into action mode, the whole Government is involved and Nawaz Sharif is not free from it. So there is no question of exonerating Sharif. India is today fighting aggression by Pakistan. Pakistan means the whole Pakistan establishment,8221; George said.

On the other hand, the Government today unequivocally ruled out 8220;safe passage8221; to the Pakistani-sponsored infiltrators along the Line of Control.

8220;There is no question of safe passage to the armed intruders that have committed aggression,8221; the spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said.

8220;The Prime Minister has been misquoted, just as the Defence Minister has been quoted out of context,8221; the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, the BJP has been adopting a flip-flop policy on George Fernandes8217;s statements: First defend him, next day distance from him and then disown him.

Senior BJP leaders feel the party might have scored over the Opposition on the Kargil issue but for the spate of controversial statements given by Fernandes. This was why subtlemessages have been delivered to the Defence Minister to keep away from the press or at least desist from further controversies till the skirmishes end in Kargil. 8220;We are sure he is not going to land us in trouble any more,8221; said a BJP general secretary today.

Fernandes hogged headlines last week by claiming that Sharif and the ISI, were not aware of their Army8217;s intrusion in Kargil. The statement was initially defended by the BJP saying his statement was based on intruders8217; messages intercepted by the Army.

The BJP tried to distance itself from Fernandes8217; statement by attributing it to his 8220;perception of the situation at the time which has changed of late8221;. That was until yesterday when Home Minister L K Advani himself contradicted Fernandes by categorically stating that the Pakistan action in Kargil was in full knowledge of Sharif.

Similarly, the party defended Fernandes8217; decision to bring two senior military officers with him to brief the BJP8217;s national executive last week saying there was nothingwrong in it and any other party could also avail of the 8220;facility8221; if a request is placed with the Defence Ministry. Fernandes is learnt to have been told by the Prime Minister that he should have avoided the unnecessary controversy.

The Defence Minister8217;s 8220;suggestion8221; for a safe passage to intruders was the latest in the series of faux pas committed by him. The BJP initially tried to defend Fernandes by saying that he did not mean a safe passage through a ceasefire. 8220;We may consider if a proposal comes,8221; was all Fernandes said. 8220;It was neither a suggestion nor an offer,8221; the BJP spokesman said.

The party distanced from George8217;s stand by categorically stating: 8220;There is no question of allowing a safe passage to Pakistan-backed intruders. They will have to pay for every drop of blood shed by Indian soldiers8221;. Advani too denied yesterday that Pakistan intruders could be allowed a safe passage.