No differences between party and government: PM

New Delhi, July 25 (PTI) India's Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh Saturday rejected reports of differences
between Congress and the government over the Indo-Pak joint
statement and said it has all the "relevant answers" to the
questions raised over it.

Making it clear that he will spelt out government's
replies in Parliament on July 29, he said "I have made a
statement in Parliament and Parliament is again going to
discuss the issue. I will clarify (in Parliament)."

Singh was speaking to reporters here when he was asked
about the controversy over last week's joint statement between
India and Pakistan which had made a mention of Balochistan and
delinked terrorism from the composite dialogue process with
Pakistan.

Asked about reported difference of opinion between the
government and the Congress party on the issue, Singh
dismissed it as a "media creation".

Ever since the joint statement was agreed between the
Prime Minister and his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani
in Egypt last week, the Congress party has been shy of coming
out openly backing the government on the Indo-Pak joint
statement.

On Friday, the Core Group of the Congress met at the
residence of Prime Minister to apparently discuss the
controversy surrounding the joint statement and to fine tune
the party's response on the issue against the backdrop of
criticism of the government's diplomatic initiative.

Opposition parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP), and experts have attacked the government over the
joint statement, saying it marked reversal of India's stand on
terrorism.

The mention of Balochistan, where Pakistan alleges
Indian involvement in the unrest, has also been sharply
criticised.

Singh refused to speak on the matter further, saying
"pending a debate in Parliament, it is inappropriate to answer
any specific questions on the issue."

He, however, expressed confidence that "we have all the
relevant answers."

Responding to demands from the opposition, a discussion
will be held on the issue in Parliament on July 29 during
which the Prime Minister will intervene. PTI MS
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