Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of reversing foreign policy from "outcomes to optics", Congress today stepped up attack over government's handling of ties with Pakistan in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack which came within days of his Lahore visit.
Party spokesperson and Deputy Leader of Congress Parliamentary in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma asked as to what assurances the Prime Minister received from Pakistan to prompt his "surprise trip" to Lahore on December 25.
Dismissing PM's visit as a "dramatic gesture", Sharma, who is also former Minister of State of External Affairs, said, "UPA government and its then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh preferred outcomes over optics. Now this has been reversed by optics coming first. Optics have taken place in Lahore".
"The Prime Minister should now tell what are the outcomes. While we support dialogue, we want to make it clear that our security and integrity are non-negotiable," Sharma said.
He also asked the PM to take the Opposition in confidence on engaging the neighbouring country.
Sharma sought to contrast the functioning of Modi government vis a vis India's relations with Pakistan with that of the previous UPA government.
"The comprehensive bilateral dialogue with Pakistan suspended after Mumbai terror strike could not be restored because India had laid some conditions. We wanted 26/11 conspirators to be charged and tried. We wanted speedy trial of the Mumbai terror accused.
"The wish of the then UPA's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistan was not fulfilled because Pakistan did not honour its promises. What assurances were received by PM Modi which prompted his visit to Lahore?"
While acknowledging that this is the time when the nation has to stand together, Sharma insisted, "We have the right to ask questions."
"After cancellation of NSA level talks in August, what was the understanding reached between NSA Ajit Doval and his Pakistan counterpart in Bangkok? What were the reasons for PM to make his surprise trip to Lahore? What assurances were given to merit this dramatic gesture?
"Does the Prime Minister believe that Pakistani establishment, including their Army and ISI are for the dialogue process? What assured the Prime Minister that the resumption of peace process has the full support and endorsement of the entire Pakistani establishment?
"Was PM Modi suspicious when the Pakistan NSA was absent in Lahore, during his surprise visit? Was that message not correctly read," Sharma asked.
Asserting that Congress is a mature political party
unlike the then opposition which "politicised" the 26/11 attacks, Sharma that he has no intention of doing the same.
"But there are certain questions to which we, the people of India, would want the Prime Minister to respond since only he and his NSA are privy to what was discussed and why they agreed to talk," the Congress spokesperson said.
"What was the assurance given by the Pakistan NSA that prompted Modi to make a special gesture of making that dramatic visit to Lahore? What was the Standard Operating Procedure on which an understanding was reached in Bangkok to respond to eventualities like Patankot," Sharma asked.
The Congress leader said that the Pathankot attack was an attack on India and "not merely a terrorist attack or an attack on humanity as said by Modi".
"Given the history and geography of our nation and the the complex nature of issues including the terror violence, Congress, in and outside government, has always favoured a dialogue provided a conducive environment is achieved," he said.
At the same time, Sharma made a strong pitch for taking the nation into confidence on the issue as "as any concession made or agreement reached" with Pakistan will have far reaching consequences.
Noting that this is a "sad beginning" to the new year for Indians as it has brought pain and tragedy, Sharma said that the entire nation is anguished and outraged over the attack by terrorist organisations based in Pakistan.
"Our thoughts prayers are with them. We salute the brave soldiers who fought and gave a befitting reply to the attackers and some made the supreme sacrifice," he said.
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Asked about the charge that the Prime Minister relied heavily on the National Security Adviser, Sharma said NSA's job is only to advise the Prime Minister.
"There are established and standard procedures of the Indian Army to respond to the situations and the Special Operational Command of the Indian Armed Forces deals with such attacks.
"Advisers should remain advisers and avoid interfering when it comes to the operational commands and operational details," he said.
Asked whether the environment is not conducive to hold talks with Pakistan, Sharma said for the moment the environment is not conducive but Congress has always maintained two countries have to address all issues for a better understanding and better environment to be created only through talks.
"We are not advocates of a hawkish approach. At the same time, we stand for a very firm and befitting response. We have heard in the past, if you take your memory back to 2008, when such statements were made by leaders in this country after the Mumbai attack, but at the same time, restraint and firmness is always a better approach and it is for the government to assess what is conducive.
"It is for the Prime Minister to answer what convinced him, what were the assurances and also why this is yet not felt fit enough to be termed as attack on our country," he asked.
