The Bharatiya Janata Party has described as “utterly irresponsible,” Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor’s remarks that Saudi Arabia could act as an interlocutor between India and Pakistan.
The party on Sunday said it would seek a clarification from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament. Mr. Tharoor made these remarks in Riyadh where he is part of an official delegation to Saudi Arabia accompanying Dr. Singh.
Mr. Tharoor had subsequently clarified that he did not mean that Saudi Arabia should be a mediator.
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“Mr. Tharoor’s comment is utterly irresponsible and we thoroughly condemn it,” BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad said here.
“Has the statement been made with the consent of the Prime Minister? Is this a trial balloon?” Mr. Prasad asked.
There has been no third party mediation. Mr. Tharoor’s remarks are an insult to India’s sovereignty, Mr. Prasad added.
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The Communist Party of India too criticised Mr. Tharoor’s remarks, saying it was an “irresponsible” statement that was creating confusion regarding New Delhi’s stand on the matter.
CPI national secretary D. Raja said Dr. Singh should explain whether there was any shift in policy on resolving issues between India and Pakistan bilaterally.