Government has no roadmap for engaging with Pakistan: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday accused the BJP-led government of lacking a roadmap in its engagement with Pakistan, saying people wish to know its policy concerning the neighbour.

Stating how ahead of the Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said talks could not held amid bomb blasts and gunshots, Congress spokesperson R.P.N. Singh said there has been repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan ahead of the National Security Adviser-level talks between India and Pakistan.

Referring to the Pakistan High Commission inviting Kashmiri separatist leaders to meet Pakistan national security adviser Sartaz Aziz before he meets his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, the Congress leader said the government had earlier called off foreign secretary level talks on the issue.

"What will the government do now? People want to know what is the government's policy," Singh told IANS.

The government had called off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan in August last year after Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit met Kashmiri separatist leaders.

Taking a jibe at the BJP, Singh said differences even exist among the party members on the need to hold NSA-level talks at the present juncture.

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Anand Sharma accused the government of not having a roadmap on engagement with Pakistan.

Sharma also sought apology from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over his reported remarks that time had come for debate on what extent can an "indirectly elected" house could hold reform proposals passed by the "directly-elected" Lok Sabha. The government lacks majority in the Rajya Sabha.