Antony should apologise for remark, says Advani

Accusing defence minister A K Antony of making a ‘false’ statement on Poonch killings, BJP leader L K Advani on Wednesday said he should apologise as his remarks are intended to ‘exonerate’ Pakistan as government wants to continue talks.

‘I hold that what the ‘raksha mantri’ has said in the House is intended only to exonerate Pakistan government and absolve it of the responsibility of killing five Indian soldiers,’ Advani told reporters in Parliament house.

Asked why the defence minister would make a contradictory statement, the BJP leader said, ‘I have a feeling that the government wants to continue talks with Pakistan.’ He claimed that if the talks would continue in a situation in which Pakistan army is named for the killings, the nation would feel outraged.