The BJP has toughened its stance on border issues and warned the government not to expect usual legislative businesses unless defence minister A.K. Antony “satisfactorily clarified” his statement on Wednesday’s ambush, reports the 'Telegraph' .
Published : 08 Aug 2013, 09:53 AM
It says the BJP conveyed this to the ruling Congress when Manmohan Singh “invited” L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley on Wednesday evening to secure the BJP's support for the long-awaited land boundary agreement (LBA) with Bangladesh and dispel concerns over resuming talks with Islamabad.
Sources in the Prime Minister’s office insisted, however, that the BJP had sought the meeting.
The talks came against the backdrop of allegations by some party leaders about the Indian government’s “cavalier” attitude towards the Opposition on security issues.
“We are shocked at the government’s casual approach on issues impinging on national sovereignty,” one leader said and cited a meeting on Wednesday on the Bangladesh pact.
The Congress-led UPA coalition government believes support for the agreement’s ratification in Parliament would go a long way in helping improve ties with the neighbour.
But the BJP fears a backlash in the border states Assam — where agreeing to the pact risks being seen as ceding land — and West Bengal.
The Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerji has however left it to the 'people of North Bengal' to concur or oppose the land boundary agreement.
The BJP also suspects the Congress might later claim it was “pressured” by the Opposition to push the pact through Parliament, says the 'Telegraph' report by Radhika Ramaseshan, a veteran in covering the Hindu party.