New Delhi: Reports of unease within
notwithstanding, Congress today dismissed suggestions of
"dissent" on the controversial Indo-Pak joint statement and
the pact with the US on end user monitoring but still appeared
shy of backing the government.
"There is no dissent in the party on the issue. Once
the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) has spoken clearly on it,
there is no need to add anything," party spokesperson Jayanthi
Natarajan told reporters here.
She was replying to a volley of questions on whether
there was opposition in the Congress against the Joint
statement.
Asked about the murmurs of dissent within the party
on the joint statement and the end user agreement issue,
Natarajan said, "there are no murmurs within the party. The
Minister of External Affairs has also clarified on the issue
(end user pact). We have nothing further to add".
While Sonia Gandhi held parleys with some senior
leaders, party sources maintained that they were routine
interaction of the party chief seeking to dismiss suggestions
that the two issues figured in the discussions.
Asked why was the party not welcoming the joint
statement and the end user pact, Natarajan repeated that there
was no dissent in the party.
To a query whether the party was reluctant to support
the Prime Minister on the two issues, she said, "how can the
party be reluctant...? We are simply saying that we have
nothing to add".
Bureau Report
