SP sees US hand in PMs climbdown

While the Opposition BJP staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha on Friday over the Indo-Pak joint statement delinking terrorism....

While the Opposition BJP staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha on Friday over the Indo-Pak joint statement delinking terrorism from the Composite Dialogue process,the Samajwadi Party (SP),which supports the UPA government,raised a red flag over the joint statement seeking explanation from the government.

The arrested terrorist in Mumbai attacks proves Pakistans involvement beyond a doubt. Since then our government has maintained that we have got proof of the complicity of Pakistani elements in the attacks. Despite that one of accused in the case,Hafiz Saeed,was freed in Pakistan recently. Unless Pakistan hands over the masterminds behind the terror attacks,there is no purpose of a dialogue, SP general secretary Amar Singh told The Indian Express from Singapore.

The joint statement has delinked Pakistan sponsored terrorism from the Composite Dialogue. Pakistani media has tom-tommed this as victory for Pakistan and a substantial climbdown by India. Our national pride and security is at stake. Only recently there were reports of terror threat at seven places in the country. Despite that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shook hands with the Pakistani Prime Minister without desired cooperation reflected from the other side, he said.

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The Parliament is in session and this development is alarming. What prompted this climbdown? Is this because of US Secretary of State Hillary Clintons visit? asked Singh,seeking an explanation from the government. Hillary has sympathised with Pakistan,urging India to take a sympathetic view towards Pakistan as it was affected by terrorism. She should be told that our country is not affected by terrorism from within but its is also affected by terrorism from across the border, Singh said.

The SP stand is significant as it the only party supporting the UPA that has openly voiced its concern over the joint statement. In fact,SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is likely to raise this issue in the Lok Sabha next week.

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