Seek Narendra Modi's permission before promising trade ties with Lahore, Amarinder Singh tells Arun Jaitley

AMRITSAR: Accusing Narendra Modi of having a "confrontationist" attitude towards Pakistan, Congress leader Amarinder Singh today hit out at BJP's Arun Jaitley, saying he should seek his Prime Ministerial candidate's permission before promising to open trade between Amritsar and Lahore. Singh is pitted against Jaitley from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat.

Referring to Jaitley's "frequent wish-list" of developing Amritsar as an important trading centre, the former Chief Minister said it required good neighbourly relations with Pakistan. "But will it be possible with Modi already having spelt out his confrontationist agenda with India's neighbours, particularly Pakistan?" he said. "Because Mr Modi is speaking an entirely different language (from Jaitley) that is purely jingoistic and confrontationist," Singh said.

"Mr Jaitley happens to belong to the same party whose Prime Minister accompanied by Parkash Singh Badal had taken a bus ride to Lahore while intruders from Pakistan were in India's backyard in Kargil," he said. "I am only trying to remind you that this is what happened when your party was in power. So think before you sell fake dreams to people, least you cut a sorry figure once again". During his various poll meetings, Jaitley has promised to open the trade route between Amritsar and Lahore.