PM, Advani at loggerheads over Indo-Pak talks

New Delhi, Mar 4: In major confrontation between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani, Prime Minister on Wednesday, Mar 3 declined Advani's demand on making the discussion over Kashmir with Pakistan public.

Reacting to a Newsweek report, in which it was said that India and Pakistan have restarted "secret back-channel talks" over Kashmir, Advani had asked the Manmohan Singh to inform the house about the discussion with Pakistan.

"I want the prime minister to tell parliament what secret or other talks have taken place between India and Pakistan. If there are any secret talks happening on Kashmir between India and US, it will have serious consequences," said Advani.

However, Singh refused to comply to his demand calling it to be a hypothetical question.

"How many times did Jaswantji (who was external affairs minister in the NDA government) talk with US government representatives? How many times you informed the house? Why are you expecting me to answer hypothetical questions?" Singh said.

Accusing him of trying to create a rift between service personnel" and the government, the Prime Minister refused to answer Advani's question on the implementation of one-rank-one-pension scheme for defence personnel.

OneIndia News