New Delhi: The Opposition is going full steam ahead in its attack on the government over the handling of Pakistan. And their latest target is External Affairs Minister S M Krishna.
"He spoke for an hour in the debate, but didn't say anything. His defence of the Indo-Pakistan joint statement was grossly inadequate," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, spokesperson, BJP.
On Thursday, Yashwant Sinha led the charge, saying that India's foreign policy isn't in safe hands. He also said that the UPA itself didn't feel confident enough to let Krishna take on the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and fielded Pranab Mukherji to do so.
The move prompted a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the workings of the External Affairs Ministry.
"I welcome the fact that we debate, in a democratic manner, our policy towards Pakistan. But to make a point, or oppose the government, let us not give more credence to what others say over what Prime Minister and our own government have formally stated. We are not here to question each others' motives. We are united against terrorism period. But equally we will continue the consistent policy towards Pakistan which includes dialogue in the steps we will take provided Pakistan takes unequivocal steps," Krishna said during the debate in Lok Sabha.
The MEA's top brass, political and bureaucratic, was all in attendance to back the minister.
"The criticism that it's not a functioning ministry is ludicrous," said Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs, MEA.
The Opposition has compared SM Krishna to Shivraj Patil, dismissing him as a lightweight who has no role to play in important foreign policy decisions. Now its up to the minister to disprove the charges and navigate his ministry out of the raging controversy over the inclusion of Balochistan in the Indo-Pakistan joint statement back on to stronger ground once again.