Thursday, February 17 2005 17:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Feb 17, 2005) sought an explanation from the Centre on whether India's security concerns were kept in mind before it agreed to starting the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service from April 7, 2005.

The senior BJP leader and former external affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, addressing a press conference in Patna asked the Centre to explain why passports, the most authentic document of citizenship, and visas were not required for the travellers.

''If passports and visas have been done away with, where is the need for fencing along the LoC and deployment of security forces?'' Singh wondered, saying there were several questions haunting the people and the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government owed 'a moral and contitutional' responsibility to clarify those.

Saying that there were apparent contradictions in the statements issued by Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and his Indian counterpart Natwar Singh in Islamabad yesterday (Feb 16, 2005), Singh said, ''I am in possession of the authorised documents. While Natwar Singh made the announcement about the bus service, Kasuri's authorised statement did not have any mention of it.''

The BJP leader also questioned the wisdom of making the announcement in 'such a hurry' when the bus services were to be started on April 7, after 'completing necessary formalities' and asked 'what prevents them from starting a similar service for Sialkot which is only 23 km away from Jammu?''

On the issue of gas pipeline between India and Iran through Pakistan, Singh said that when the NDA was in power, it had strived for a bilateral agreement between India and Iran.

''Why is the present UPA Government talking about a tripartite agreement between India, Pakistan and Iran on the issue?'' he asked.