Pranab Mukherjee hits out at BJP for criticising PM

SAGARDIGHI (WB): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today slammed BJP for criticising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who described his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani 'a man of peace' and said former premier Atal Behari Vajpayee had also visited Pakistan and signed pacts to counter terrorism in 2004.

''All countries recognise that there is a need to talk to Pakistan to counter terrorism,'' Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of a school building, here.

Mukherjee said Vajpayee had visited Pakistan in 2004 after terror attacks on Parliament, J and K Assembly and Akshardham temple.

He said a bus service had also been introduced between Delhi and Lahore when BJP was in power as a confidence-building measure.

Mukherjee pointed out that if Pakistan was ready to give the 'Most Favoured Nation' status in trade with India and if it was ready to curb terrorism and take action against terrorists based in that country, who had attacked India, "then both countries will benefit".