Jaitley rules out PM apology

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 11

Virtually ruling out an apology by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today charged former PM Manmohan Singh with defying the national line by meeting Pakistan diplomats and demanded to know the context, relevance and necessity of such a meet.

Terming the meeting as “political misadventure”, Jaitley wanted Singh and the Congress to explain the context of attending the dinner hosted by suspended party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for Pakistan diplomats.

He said the main Opposition party was expected to follow the national policy, which states that terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand. “Is (the) main Opposition party not part of the State?” he said.

Jaitley said if anyone defies the national line, he should be prepared to answer questions. “It is a political misadventure, it has a political cost,” he said.

Hours after Singh asked the PM to apologise to the nation for setting a “dangerous precedent”, Jaitley said he wanted the former PM to explain what transpired at the meeting. He went on to defend his government’s track record of fighting terror, saying no government in the past has a track record this government has in fighting terrorism.

In response to Singh’s demand for apology, Jaitley said people who had violated the national policy of talks and terror not going hand in hand should apologise.

Earlier, the BJP, while hitting back at Singh on why it took him “over 48 hours to accept” that a “hush-hush” meeting with the Pakistan envoy did take place, wondered the need for Pakistan to issue its “unwarranted” advice on elections to a democratic country like India.

Condemning Pakistan foreign office spokesman Mohammad Faisal’s statement, the BJP called it a confirmation of Modi’s viewpoint on Congress’ involvement. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the statement appeared to be aimed at bailing out the Congress.

Faisal in his tweet said: “India should stop dragging Pakistan into its electoral debate and win victories on own strength rather than fabricated conspiracies, which are utterly baseless and irresponsible.”

Prasad said: “I wish to tell Pakistan that Indians are capable of contesting India’s democracy on their own as they do.... India completely abhors any outside interference in India’s electoral affairs.”

Also, BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao said: “Why has it taken 48 hours for Dr (Manmohan) Singh to accept the meeting took place. Why did the Congress leaders deny yesterday?” (With agency inputs)