NEW DELHI, Aug 7:
Political storm over Defence Minister A K Antony’s statement on LoC killing paralysed Parliament today with an aggressive Opposition accusing him of giving a “clean chit” to Pakistan Army and demanding his apology.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were repeatedly adjourned before being adjourned for the day at 3 pm without transacting any substantive business.
Antony, who has been under fire since yesterday for saying that “terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform”, maintained in the Rajya Sabha that his statement was based on “whatever information” he had.
He said he would get back to the House if he got more details about yesterday’s incident in Poonch after the visit of Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh to Jammu today.
He asserted that there will be no compromise on defence and protection of integrity of the country.
BJP members, however, continued to target him and demanded apology from him for giving an “escape route” to Pakistan to deny involvement of its Army in the incident.
In the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj said Antony cannot give a “clean chit” to Pakistan Army to “please” that country.
She said Antony’s statement had created “confusion” by trying to absolve the Pakistan Army in the attack and it was a “serious situation”.
“They (Pakistan Army) come to kill and our Defence Minister says Pakistan Army is not involved,” she said amid chants of ‘shame shame’ from her party colleagues.
Earlier, raising the issue in both Houses, BJP members said the Defence Minister’s statement in Parliament yesterday was contrary to the release of the Army prepared in Jammu.
They alleged that Antony got the version of the Army statement changed and questioned why the person of sincerity, honesty and integrity did so.
BJP had moved privilege motion in both the Houses. Speaker Meira Kumar told BJP leader Yashwant Sinha that his notice raising questions of privilege against the Defence Minister was under her consideration.
Earlier, as the House met for the day, Swaraj slammed Antony for giving Pakistan Army a “clean chit” in the attack.
After the first adjournment in the Lok Sabha, BJP veteran L K Advani called Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath in the House apparently to express BJP’s strong views over the alleged contradictory stands by Antony and the Army. Swaraj was also by Advani’s side.
The Lower House also saw Left members storming the Well protesting against attacks on opposition parties, women and weaker sections in West Bengal by ruling Trinamool Congress.
The protests by members of Seemandhra region continued in both Houses with TDP members storming the Well and Rajya Sabha even witnessing the spectacle of a TDP member, CM Ramesh, wearing a black band over his mouth.
Swaraj said while an earlier statement by the Army and the Defence Ministry blamed terrorists and Pakistan Army regulars for the attack, Antony had said those involved in the incident were terrorists and people wearing Pakistan Army uniforms.
“The Defence Minister should apologise to the country,” Swaraj said amid din over Telangana and law and order situation in West Bengal.
As Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was present in the House, Swaraj demanded a statement from him on the issue stating categorically that Pakistan Army was involved in the attack on the Indian post in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the Rajya Sabha, BJP members were dissatisfied with Antony’s statement and trooped into the well raising slogans against Pakistan while demanding an apology from the Minister.
“Defence Minister has to clarify and tender an apology to the country. Government has let down the moral of the country and demoralised the Armed Forces. What is the response …The Minister should offer an apology,” Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) said.
Accusing Government of “putting pressure on the Army”, he said, “Why is he doing this? He should tender an apology … What compelled the Government to supersede an earlier statement…Government wants to be silent. Why Antony, a person of sincerity honesty and integrity, is doing this?”
Naidu said, ”The second statement gives an escape route to Pakistan. Please understand our agony. It’s not a Congress or BJP issue. It is a national issue. Two contradictory statements. One statement gives an escape route to Pakistan.”
Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) said, “It impinges upon national security. We would like the Defence Minister to explain after all the first statement is issued from Jammu, from the field, from the Armed forces.”
Naidu questioned why there was change in statement by the Defence Minister. “Is it something to do with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s proposed visit to United Nations and hold talks with Pakistan there?”
Dissatisfied with Antony’s statements, BJP members disallowed Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to carry out further legislative business when he sought to take up the Companies Bill.
BJP leader Yashwant Sihna today moved a breach of privilege notice against Antony, accusing him of misleading Parliament on the killing of five Indian jawans along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
“It was a most laughable statement that the Defence Minister of India made. I have already sent my notice of breach of privilege to the Speaker. I’m going to Parliament, and I’m going to raise this issue in Parliament,” Sinha said.
“Mr Antony is not only guilty of misleading the House with his statement, but he has further compounded his guilt by getting the Army’s statement, which was issued before his statement, changed,” he claimed.
Sinha said that the Army had clearly stated that Pakistani soldiers were involved and now they have been made to retract.
“The Army is on the ground, the Army knows better than the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister. And the Army has been forced to change its statement, its a very serious issue. The Defence Minister and the Government are speaking in a language which is more acceptable to Pakistan than to us,” the BJP leader said.
Amid the raging controversy over his statement on the Poonch killings, Antony briefed Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the situation on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir where five troops were killed in an ambush.
Antony met Singh against the backdrop of controversy over his statement that the soldiers were killed by “terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform”.
Making a suo motu statement in both the Houses of Parliament yesterday, Antony had said an Indian Army patrol, comprising one junior commissioned officer and five other ranks, was “ambushed on our side” of the LoC in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The ambush was carried out by approximately 20 heavily-armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform,” he said.
“In the ensuing firefight, five Indian soldiers were martyred and one soldier was injured,” he said.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla then said Pakistan was not given any alibi and it cannot violate the Line of Control (LoC).
Meanwhile, gunning for Defence Minister A K Antony, BJP today escalated the stand-off over his statement on the killing of five soldiers.
NDA Parliamentary Party chief L K Advani, who demanded an apology from Antony, led a party delegation to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and made it clear that they will not relent on their position when Parliament meets tomorrow.
At the meeting, the Government gave an assurance that Antony will make a statement tomorrow clarifying the position. Antony was present at the meeting.
The BJP leaders, who included party chief Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, also told the Prime Minister that he should not meet his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York next month in the current situation.(PTI)
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