The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed an interesting passage of arms when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened repeatedly and rejected senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani's charge that United States' pressure was behind India's decision to talk to Pakistan.
In a sharp verbal duel during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Singh asserted that there is no change in the US policy on Indo-Pak relations after US President Barack Obama came to power.
He intervened on more than two occasions during the 75-minute speech by Advani, seeking to set the record straight on the Indo-Pak talks besides other issues like 'one-rank-one-pension' for armed forces.
"You are using this debate to sow seeds of rift between the government and the armed services," Singh said.
What you are attributing to President Obama is certainly not true. In my discussions with President Obama, he has unambiguously said that there is no change in the US policy towards India and Pakistan (relations)," the Prime Minister asserted.
He was replying to Advani who suggested that the US was behind the recent Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level meet as Obama had publicly said during his Presidential campaign that he would try to resolve Kashmir issue.
This, the BJP leader contended, marked a change in the US position as the previous US administrations had maintained that they would not mediate in Indo-Pak relations unless both the countries want it.
The Prime Minister was again in a mood to give back when Advani referred to reports that India and Pakistan had held "secret" talks over Kashmir and wanted the government to tell Parliament what the parleys are about.
He took the battle into the rival camp by questioning why the details of the series of parleys held between the then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott were not shared with Parliament.
"Let me ask you one question. How many times did Jaswant Singh hold talks with Strobe Talbott. Was Parliament kept informed about the over dozen meetings? Why then are you expecting me to answer hypothetical questions," Dr Singh said.
At this, Advani appeared to be defensive and said he had read about these "secret" meetings in the media. "If there is no substance, I will be happy," he said. He, however, said the government should be cautious "even if there is an iota of truth".
The BJP leader said if the government tries to reach any compromise on Kashmir issue through such "secret" meetings, there will be agitation throughout the country.
In this regard, he opposed according pre-1953 status to Jammu and Kashmir when the President and Supreme Court of India had no authority over matters related to the state.
Advani, the former Leader of Opposition and now NDA's Working Chairman, also questioned the utility of the recent talks with Pakistan , which he suggested marked a shift in India's post 26/11 stand of not holding dialogue with Pakistan till it ended terrorism.
He suggested that government appeared to lack unanimity in approach over talks with Pakistan.
