Click to play videoWith terror dominating the national agenda in the aftermath of the Delhi serial blasts, there has been a growing public demand for a national consensus on combating terrorist activities. Appearing on CNN-IBN's Weekend Edition, Congress leader Salman KKhursheed went to the extent of saying that it was his party that was not allowing leaders like him to build a consensus with his political opponents. BJP's Arun Jaitley too admitted that a joint Manmohan Singh-L K Advani initiative on terror was unlikely. Here are excerpts from their conversation with CNN-IBN Editor-in-Chief, Rajdeep Sardesai. Read on...
Rajdeep Sardesai: You can't make this battle, Narendra Modi vs Congress.
Salman Khurshid: No, it is not a battle between Narendra Modi and the rest of the country. It is simply a battle of being transparent, open and accountable. I have to be accountable and Narendra Modi has to be accountable. But I think what is important is that everytime there is an incident like that, if Salman Khurshid picked up his phone and rang Arun Jaitley and Arun Jaitley rang me, things would be different. But we don't do that. Our parties dont allow us to do that.
Rajdeep Sardesai: That's interesting. You are saying that your parties wont allow you to build consensus? Right be honest.
Salman Khurshid: I know. I'm telling you our parties don't allow us to build consensus.
Rajdeep Sardesai: I am glad that you have been as honest as that. Arun Jaitley would you be equally honest and say that? A Barack Obama and John McCain can stand on the same platform at least on terror.
Arun Jaitley: I think it's about time that all of us spoke on terror in the same voice. It's ultimately a campaign to save the country, otherwise the way you are headed is not a great path. With almost 170 distrcits under the grip of Naxalites, you have regions all over where terrorists can strike at will. This is not the time to show differences on the issue. The issue is not Gujarat. You denied that law to Rajasthan. You have a problem with Gujarat. What about Rajasthan, what about Madhya Pradesh? The fact is that India today needs an anti-terror law. Since you talk of consensus, Home Minister Shivraj Patil has been saying he needs a federal investigative agency. We are willing to look at that demand provided the federal agency has substantive powers.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
 |
 |
 |
|
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.