Antony should apologise for remark on border killings Advani

Accusing Defence Minister A K Antony of making a 'false' statement on Poonch killings, BJP leader L K Advani today said he should apologise as his remarks are intended to 'exonerate' Pakistan as government wants to continue talks.

'I hold that what the 'raksha mantri' has said in the House is intended only to exonerate Pakistan government and absolve it of the responsibility of killing five Indian soldiers,' Advani told reporters in Parliament House.

Asked why the Defence Minister would make a contradictory statement, the BJP leader said, 'I have a feeling that the government wants to continue talks with Pakistan.'

He claimed that if the talks would continue in a situation in which Pakistan army is named for the killings, the nation would feel outraged.

Terming this a 'formal invasion' as the Pakistan army personnel had entered 'our borders and killed Indian soldiers', Advani said he has suggested to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath that the statements of Antony and the Defence Ministry- which blames Pakistan army and terrorists for the attacks - should be reconciled.

'The Defence Minister himself should tell the House that what the truth is and apologise that what he said is false,' the BJP Parliamentary Party Chief said.

In reply to a question on whether Prime Minister Singh should hold talks with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the forthcoming UN summit, Advani said, 'This is no time for such talks.