Leaders spar over Modi’s poll remarks on Manmohan

‘PAK CONSPIRACY’ Congress asks PM to furnish proof or offer an apology to the nation; uproar forces two adjournments on Day 1

NEWDELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allegations against his predecessor Manmohan Singh for “conspiracy with Pakistan” became the new flashpoint between the Congress-led Opposition and the government in Parliament on Friday.

Attacking the BJP, the Congress asked Modi to furnish proof to back the “serious allegation” or offer an apology to the nation. The clash between the parties forced two adjournments on the first day of the winter session.

At a rally in Gujarat on Sunday, Modi had mentioned that the former PM and former V-P Hamid Ansari attended a meeting with Pakistan’s high commissioner and a former minister.

“This is a major allegation against very important people by a person as important as the PM. He must come up with proof and tell Parliament how the conspiracy was hatched. If it’s true, there should be punishment. But if he fails to do so, he should apologise to the nation and admit that he said it deliberately to win the election by polarising votes,” Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said. On Thursday evening, Singh met Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu and is believed to have expressed his anguish on the issue.

As the Congress called the PM’S allegations “an international issue”, the BJP turned the tables on the party, with parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar demanding an apology from the Congress instead. “The Congress should apologise for a meeting between its leaders, including former PM Manmohan Singh, and Pakistani officials without informing the government,” said Kumar.

The Congress-led Opposition demanded a debate under Rule 267 of Rajya Sabha, suspending all other business. But Naidu, on his first day in office, disallowed it. When the House met again after lunch break, Azad raised the issue amid uproar. Deputy chairman PJ Kurien adjourned the House again till 3pm.