Nation needs to be informed about govt's stand on Indo-Pak ties, says Congress in Parliament

New Delhi: Demanding a clarification from the government on ties with Pakistan, the Congress on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to explain the Centre's position to the nation as they can't keep changing their stand with the hostile neighbour.

"We are not against having talks but we are confused as to what is the government's policy. One day they cancel talks because of Hurriyat then they go ahead and talk in Ufa then there is a cancellation again and now a meeting happened suddenly in Bangkok. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister are not explaining their intention and vision to the nation," Congress leader Shashi Tharoor told the media here.

Talking about the Congress' demanding a clarification from the government over its Pakistan policy, Tharoor said that they want peace and supported External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Islamabad.

"The nation needs to be informed about the government's stand. Until yesterday, the BJP supporters on social media were raving about not having talks with Pakistan and look what happened in Bangkok. Sushma ji is going for a SAARC meeting and of course we support that," Tharoor added.

He asserted that the Congress would fully support the government once they give an explanation to the nation, since it was important to have good ties with the neighbouring nations.

"We don't want distractions at the border. No country wants to invest with a nation at war. We want peace but with self respect. Not that one day you send terrorists and a diplomat the next day, that won't do. We won't protest once the government lists out a measure and clear progress. We want to know their framework and the context of their steps taken," Tharoor said.

Earlier, raising the issue at the start of Rajya Sabha proceedings, Anand Sharma said that the Opposition should be taken into confidence about the direction and the roadmap that the government has in mind regarding Indo-Pak relations.

"I have given a notice under Rule 267 so that the Prime Minister and his government inform the House about the developments and the reasons which have made the government to make a fundamental departure from the position as was conveyed to this august House in the last session with regard to India's engagement with Pakistan," he said.

Rahul Gandhi leads Congress’ charge, demands VK Singh’s resignation over 'dog' remark

Congress MPs led by Rahul Gandhi on Monday staged a protest outside Parliament house demanding removal of Union Minister V K Singh for his "dog" remarks.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Anand Sharma, Deepender Hooda and several others participated in the protest held shortly before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha assembled for the day.

Later speaking to reporters, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said that they were raising the issue as it was about "the behaviour of a central government minister against a particular community, infact Indians per se". He said that Government needs to take action and only giving speeches was not enough.

Singh had kicked up a storm in October with his comments that the Centre cannot be blamed if somebody throws a stone at a dog to shield it from criticism for the Faridabad Dalit burning incident, prompting opposition to demand his ouster.

Singh, who is Minister of State for External Affairs, has been under opposition fire for allegedly using 'dog analogy' to refute allegations of inaction levelled against the government in the aftermath of two Dalit children being burned alive in Haryana.

Stop 'politicising' and drop VK Singh issue: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

The government side has been insisting that Singh had not made any such comment about Dalits and there is no reason for the Opposition to raise the issue.

"This issue is being repeated and escalated unnecessarily as he (Singh) has re-iterated time and again that he in no way wanted to hurt or insult any section of the society with his statement. But we can't help it if people want to keep this issue alive for political reasons," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told ANI.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm.