Gujral loses his cool as Vajpayee prods and probes

This view was echoed by a number of MPs, including Sharad Pawar, Congress and Somnath Chatterjee, CPM, who felt that the Prime Minister should address the House and explain the reasons for the withdrawal of Gujral’s initial offer of unconditional talks and his later clarification that negotiations were only possible with those who had given up arms. An evidently riled Prime Minister stood up to defend his position and promptly lost his cool.

“I strongly protest against the observation that I have changed my position from the morning to the evening,” he declared. “I have always been consistent on every issue,” he said raising his voice.

His readiness for talks was only with “the estranged youth” who had turned away from the country. “I have never offered unconditional dialogue with the Kashmiri militants,” he said. Insisting that there could be no compromise on the “secular unity and integrity” of the nation, he declared that “Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so.” Maybe it was his “chaste Urdu” which was to blame and journalists had got him wrong, Gujral said.

But Vajpayee’s attack had evidently get under his skin. Calling Vajpayee "a seasoned diplomat,” a visibly angry Gujral said he was dismayed by his readiness to condemn him.

Vajpayee volleyed back that Gujral’s statements had been reported by Doordarshan, amidst shouting and heckling from the Opposition benches.“India’s security and defence is the foremost responsibility of any government. I cannot slip or compromise on this,” countered Gujral.

Gujral’s reference at this point about “those who wanted to break the country on the grounds of religion” was accompanied by cheers and thumping of tables from the treasury benches and loud protests from the BJP and Shiv Sena members.Then followed a spirited exchange between Vajpayee and Gujral, with the PM’s ire writ large on his face.Finally, Chandra Sekhar stepped in.

Appealing to Gujral not to give vent to his anger, the former Prime Minister said “your anger will not lessen the confusion created by the contradictory statements.”

Instead, Chandra Shekhar wanted to know why Gujral had not directed his anger at foreign powers when they made statements about Kashmir?This irked Gujral all the more. “Name one statement on Kashmir that this govt has not reacted to,” he challenged.