PM demolishes issues raised by Advani

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today singled out LK Advani for attack by seeking to demolish a number of issues raised by the BJP veteran including the charge that India was talking to Pakistan under US pressure.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday singled out LK Advani for attack by seeking to demolish a number of issues raised by the BJP veteran including the charge that India was talking to Pakistan under US pressure.

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"I think we do a disservice to any government and Prime Minister of this proud country if we say that such fundamental matters of national security and foreign policy were based on anything but our supreme national interest," he said.

Singh's remark, while replying to the three-day discussion in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address, came in response to Advani's charge that India had resumed talks with Pakistan under US pressure.

Urging the Opposition "not to spread disinformation" on sensitive aspects of foreign policy, he also dismissed another BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi's contention that steps being taken by the government would make Indian agriculture sector and the farmers an "appendage" to the US.

Singh, who had torn into the arguments of Advani in the House a couple of days back too, also responded to the efforts being initiated to unearth black money, suicide of farmers and one rank-one pension - all issues raised by the BJP Parliamentary Party chairman.

"Let us not allow narrow partisan considerations to come in the way of effective governance of this great country," the Prime Minister told the Opposition.

Both Advani and Joshi were seen sitting in the front opposition benches calmly listening to the Prime Minister.