Manmohan failed to convince anybody on Indo-Pak statement: BJP

The BJP on Thursday said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has failed to convince anybody on the Indo-Pak joint statement and even Congress President Sonia Gandhi has preferred to remain "silent" on Balochistan and some other issues mentioned in it. Waving a text of Gandhi's speech made at the Congress Parliamentary Party meet on Thursday, Ms. Swaraj told reporters here, "She is silent on issues related to the Joint Statement. While the Prime Minister debracketed terrorism from the composite dialogue, Gandhi clearly told her MPs that till Pakistan takes strict action against terrorism, there will be no talks." Ms. Swaraj said Ms. Gandhi had virtually over-ruled Singh on the issue. "She did not think it right to say anything on Balochistan in her speech," she added. The BJP Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha said Dr. Singh had failed to convince his own party on the issue as was clear from the silence of Congress spokespersons on the matter. "Neither the communists, nor the Congress President or even the opposition are convinced about the joint statement," she said. Ms. Swaraj accused the government of failing to give satisfactory answers to the queries raised by the opposition or remove doubts persisting in the minds of the people.

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