The Opposition is awaiting the government’s response government on their demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify his remarks on linking a dinner meeting hosted by former minister Mani Shankar Aiyar with Pakistan. Both the Houses of Parliament saw disruptions over the issue on Tuesday, too.

After a suggestion from Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, leader of Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley talked to leaders of various Opposition parties on the issue.

Opposition leaders have told the Centre that Modi must clarify his remarks made during an election rally in Gujarat.

“The government has talked to us. We are still waiting for the Prime Minister to accept the Opposition’s justified demand so that we can bring a closure to a controversy which is painful, which was of his creation and entirely avoidable,” said Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader of the Congress in Rajya Sabha. He said when Modi’s remarks were constitutional transgression because he holds the office of the PM.

“So to say anything to cast aspersions which are insidious on the former PM who held his office with distinction for 10 years, the former Vice-President who was in office for 10 years, the former Chief of the Indian Army, Foreign Secretaries, Foreign Ministers — these are the most eminent and distinguished diplomats that India has produced... They all have been deeply anguished, they cannot speak for themselves,” he told reporters.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the issue in Rajya Sabha. “Such allegations are deadly for those against whom they are made.

“The Prime Minister should come to the House and explain his remarks, and if the former Prime Minister and others are proved wrong, action should be taken against them.”

Related Topics