Gujarat Assembly Elections 2012: Chief minister Narendra Modi rakes up Sir Creek issue again despite PMO's denial

AHMEDABAD: Despite the Prime Minister's Office terming allegations on Sir Creek as "baseless" and "mischievous", Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on the Centre today alleging Prime Minister had agreed to resolve the issue soon during discussions with Pakistan's president.

"Is it not true that when Asif Ali Zardari was on a visit to Ajmer (in April 2012) you had lunch with him in Delhi? That time he raised the issue of Sir Creek," Modi said, posing a query to the PM, while addressing rallies in Kutch and North Gujarat.

"In Tehran things went ahead and on this issue you said in front of the world that a deal is possible," he said.

Modi, yesterday shot off a letter as a common man to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, demanding that the disputed Sir Creek should not be handed over to the neighbouring country.

The PMO had strongly rebutted the charge by saying the allegations were "baseless" and "mischievous".

"The allegation in the letter that Sir Creek is about to be given to Pakistan is untrue. The other conclusions drawn by Modi on this alleged fact are also not real," the PMO said responding to Modi's letter.

Modi had alleged in his letter that a decision was likely to be taken by the Centre over Sir Creek soon, and he as a common man was concerned about its security ramifications.

Hitting back at the PMO's denial, Modi cited instances like these in backdrop of the Prime Minister's 'denials' on questions raised by him about Sir Creek.

Modi asked Prime Minister 'not to mislead' the nation and assure countrymen that 'no decision' to give Sir Creek to Pakistan had been taken.