LoC killings: AK Antony remarks were based on official inputs, says Mayawati

Welcoming Defence Minister A K Antony's statement on involvement of Pakistani troops in the LoC attack, BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday said the matter should now be put to rest. She said the Minister should not be "faulted" for the contradictory statement as his remark was based on the information provided by officials.

"I had said earlier that when this type of incident takes place, it is wise that a responsible minister should make a statement after collecting all the facts.  "But I think the Defence Minister had little fault in this matter because he made his statement based on the information provided to him by his officials," she told reporters outside Parliament.

"I think we should not make it an issue anymore", she said after the Minister's fresh statement. Antony, who faced BJP fury for the last two days, made a fresh statement in both Houses, saying his earlier contention about the involvement of "terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform" was based on information available at that time.

He said that specialist troops of the Pakistan Army were involved in the attack when a group from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) side crossed the LoC and killed the jawans.  Mayawati said it should be the responsibility of the Centre now to ensure that patrolling along the borders is strengthened so that such incidents do not happen again.

She, however, condemned the naming of Opposition party members in the House bulletin for disrupting proceedings, saying the move was "unfair". The BSP leader said this has happened for the first time in Parliament's history and if the Chair was unhappy with the disruptions, it could have talked to the party leaders and evolved a consensus.

"This is not fair," she said. Rajya Sabha was on Thursday adjourned till noon after vociferous protests from BJP and TDP members over naming of their party colleagues in the House bulletin for disrupting proceedings.  M Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) raised the issue of Rajya Sabha bulletin listing Wednesday's proceedings of the House, naming 20 members of the BJP and 2 of TDP for disrupting proceedings.