Govt should reveal the truth behind Pulwama incident

Kochi: Former Union minister and veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Wednesday strongly criticised the Union government for not responding to the demand of Congress party for a white paper on the Pulwama terror attack incident in view of the latest revelations made by former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik.While speaking after the inauguration of a programme to mark the 120th anniversary of the first Congress party meeting in Kerala and C Vijayaraghavachariar commemoration function in Kochi, he said that unless the government reveals the truth behind the Pulwama incident, there may be doubts about the Balakot airstrike also.“We are not coming to any conclusion regarding the Pulwama incident. But the latest revelations have raised many questions. The questions are now being raised by the former governor himself. We are not attacking any one or we are not coming to a premature conclusion on the incident. But we are asking for a white paper,” he said.Aiyar also urged the Congress party in Kerala to join hands with LDF to defeat the BJP at Centre during the upcoming LS poll. “At least for the time being Congress party should join hands with LDF in Kerala to prevent BJP coming to power at the Centre. The party has to sacrifice many things. But it is a necessity,” he said.Aiyar said Vijayaraghavachariar, who is known as the Roaring Lion of South India, raised South India’s voice against colonialism. “He was born into a high caste family but was a leading member of anti-untouchability league. He was a man who understood that India could either be governed in all its multifaceted diversity or not governed at all,” he said.The programme was organised by the district Congress committee.