Govt, party one: Rahul on Indo-Pak jt statement

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi today came out in support of the government on the Indo-Pak joint statement stating that the "government and party are absolutely one".

He dismissed suggestions of any difference between the party and the government over the statement and sought to put the blame on media for creating such an impression.

His comments assume importance as opposition members in parliamentary debate alleged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not backed by his own party on the issue.

"Government and party are absolutely one...You media have created such an impression," Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament when asked about differences between the party and the government over the joint statement signed by Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani on July 16 in Egypt.

Gandhi's remarks came hours after the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting in which party President Sonia Gandhi, in a carefully-worded statement, made it clear that there was no question of resumption of dialogue with Pakistan till it acts against those mounting terror attacks against India.