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Sushma came to Agra on PM's request

Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi

According to reliable sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party, Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj was specially flown from Delhi to Agra on prime minister's request to 'handle' the media.

While the media and the various political parties are lambasting her for spoiling the party, BJP sources said that Sushma Swaraj was being briefed from Jaypee Palace, where the talks were in progress.

She spoke about issues according to her brief, which was to articulate the Indian position, the sources added.

According to the sources, her contact person in Jaypee Palace had told her that 'many issues were raised, including Kashmir'.

But only the first part of her statement was picked up by the media and blown out of proportion, the sources added.

A BJP leader said, "The prime minister had kept the entire Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs with him in Agra. It shows that the PM didn't want to take any decisions alone. The media is not highlighting that, but is unnecessarily blaming Sushma."

"She spoke only after consultations with the leaders," added the leader.

Rediff.com sources said that on July 15 in a dinner function Jaswant Singh and Advani had asked Sushma not to worry about the controversy.

However, when by the afternoon of July 16 it became clear that her briefing had ruffled Pakistani feathers, she gave clarifications that sounded defensive.

And to control the damage she also met a few Pakistani editors in her room. She said, "I spoke as per my briefing. It was a never my intention to not talk about Kashmir. Why should I?"

Meanwhile, BJP sources said that Jaswant Singh is preparing a statement to be issued by the National Democratic Alliance hailing Vajpayee and condemning Musharraf's approach.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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