Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has announced state funeral for martyred soldiers of his state killed in firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch District, today said Defence Minister A.K. Antony must make statements based on facts.
"The Defence Minster must make statements based on facts and after careful thinking," he told media here when asked to comment on the BJP's demand that Antony owes an apology to the nation for letting Pakistan off the hook with the statement he made in Parliament on the LoC killing.
Kumar, however, said that he was not aware of the debate inside the Parliament on the untoward incident.
"But it's a very serious issue. Our five soldiers have lost their lives and four of them are from Bihar. As far as the security of the country is concerned, it is the responsibility of the Central Government. The people of the country are angry and upset over this incident. So, I think that the Central Government will take apt action on this matter," he added.
Kumar further said his government will extend all possible to the families of the martyred soldiers from Bihar.
"We have already announced a state funeral for the martyrs. We will also give Rs. 10 lakh ex-gratia to kin of each martyred soldier and will extend all possible," he added.
The Bihar Chief Minister further pointed out that an atmosphere of peace and tranquility should be created to improve the relationship between the two Asian neighbours.
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While Pakistan has denied the involvement of its troops in the incident, the Defence Minister said in Parliament that the intruders were "terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform."
Antony's statement attracted a lot of flak, as it has contradicted the Indian Army's account, which said that the perpetrators were 'soldiers from the Pakistan Army'.
After Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha issued a breach of privilege notice against the Defence Minister, Antony changed his statement in Parliament on Wednesday after Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's approval.
Meanwhile, the Congress has maintained that there is no contradiction in voices between the Indian Army and the Central Government.
"The Defence Minister did not say anything wrong," said External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, while criticizing the BJP-led opposition for targeting Antony.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari appealed to parties not to politicise the Line of Control killings, saying that Antony had made his statement on Tuesday with the information that he had at the time.
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned prematurely again today after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led opposition continued to mount pressure on the Congress-led UPA Government, and demanded an apology from the Defence Minister for misleading the nation through his statement.
On Tuesday morning, Pakistan had intruded into Indian Territory and ambushed five Indian soldiers who were patrolling an area along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch District.
Of the five Indian soldiers killed, four belong to the 21 Bihar Regiment and one to the Maratha Light Infantry. They were killed in an ambush by Pakistani troops. The Indian Army soldiers killed in the incident have been identified as Prem Nath Singh, Shambhu Saran Ray, Vyay Kumay Ray, Raghunandan Prasad and Pundalik Mane.