Vajpayee praise wont act as a shield,BJP tells PM

BJP said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's praise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee cannot shield him from his 'monumental lapse' in Sharm-al-Sheikh.

Keeping the UPA government in the line of fire on Indo-Pak Sharm-el Sheikh joint statement,BJP said on Friday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s praise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee cannot shield him from his “monumental lapse” in reversing India’s consistent stand on Pakistan.

Participating in the debate on the working of External Affairs Ministry in the Rajya Sabha,Leader of opposition Arun Jaitley said with “monumental lapse at Sharm-el-Sheikh,Prime Minister has brought India to a position of weakness” from strength,which former Prime Minister Vajpayee had brought to the country while dealing with Pakistan.

Jaitley said Singh has reversed the process set in motion by his predecessor,as highlighted in the January 6,2004 joint statement,which said terrorism must be prevented to take forward dialogue and Pakistan would not permit its territory to support terrorism.

Story continues below this ad

He said de-linking action on terrorism from composite dialogue “completely destroys the Vajpayee line…praise for him cannot shield Prime Minister from the monumental lapses”.

On Wednesday,Prime Minister described Vajpayee as a “statesman” and said he shared his vision and frustration while dealing with Pakistan.

Citing a court language in Urdu,Jaitley,himself a noted lawyer,said “Muddaii ban ke gaye,Mudda alaeha ban ke loutey“. Translating,he said India went as a complainant as being victim of terrorism but came back with a “stigma” of Balochistan.