Cong not allowing talks on Gurdaspur attack, needs to clarify stand on Yakub Memon: Jaitley

Govt accused Congress of being “irresponsible” for not allowing Rajnath Singh to make a statement in Rajya Sabbha on the Gurdaspur terrorist attack. New Delhi: Government on Thursday accused Congress of being “irresponsible” for not allowing Home Minister Rajnath Singh to make a statement in Rajya Sabbha on the Gurdaspur terrorist attack, which it said had originated from Pakistan. Attacking Congress, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the opposition party, due to its “petty” politics, presented the country as a “divided” house by not allowing a discussion in Parliament on the cross-border terror incident. He also slammed Congress leaders for giving contrarian statements on 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon’s death sentence, which was upheld by Supreme Court, saying it is “a cause of concern” and demanded that its president Sonia Gandhi explain to the country the party’s stand on this. Attacking Congress, the Finance Minister said, “The irresponsible statements which have come from some Congress leaders with regard to the punishment given to the accused of the 1993 Mumbai blasts also raises a cause of concern.” He said mainstream national parties are expected to react in a responsible manner and are not expected to show the country as a divided house.