Jethmalani admires SM composure
Lavishing praise on external affairs minister Mr S.M. Krishna for showing “dignity” when his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi remarked against home secretary Mr G.K. Pillai, BJP MP and noted lawyer Mr Ram Jethmalani on Thursday surprised many within his party as well as others.
Raising the issue of recent meeting of foreign ministers of both India and Pakistan in Islamabad, Mr Jethmalani said, “I do wish to take the opportunity of complimenting and congratulating the foreign minister for the extraordinary posture of impressive dignity and the manners you have exhibited which incidentally does credit to our cultural and civilisational superiority.” But his party colleagues, including deputy Leader of Opposition Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, who had raised the issue during question hour in Rajya Sabha, accused Mr Krishna of not having defended Mr Pillai when Mr Qureshi compared him to LeT chief Hafiz Saeed. However, Mr Krishna responded by saying that it was “ridiculous” to compare Mr Pillai with a “terrorist like Hafiz Saeed.” He said he “did not want to get into slanging match (with Qureshi). So there was no point talking on the same lines. And I treat it with contempt that it deserves.”
“The home secretary is one of the most distinguished and responsible civil servants. I have the highest respect for him. But I still feel that the timing of the statement... as per my sources there was some mishap between a newspaper and the home secretary. However, whatever David Headley told FBI, matches what home secretary had said,” he told the House.
Mr Krishna also said that India is willing to discuss with Pakistan in a “step-by-step” approach to resolve differences with the neighbouring country.
“We have nothing to be afraid of. Let the nation understand India is willing to discuss everything,” he said in the Rajya Sabha.
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