Why did it take so long for PM to speak up: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday wondered why it took so long for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to respond to the barbaric beheading of an Indian soldier along the Line of Control and asked if his reaction was out of "conviction or compulsion".

The opposition party said it was able to make the government understand the mood of the nation by seeking tough measures against Pakistan in the wake of the barbaric incident.

"The fact that it has taken so long for PM to react makes me wonder if today's reaction is out of conviction or out of compulsion. I hope this marks the burial of the Sharm-al-Sheikh line," BJP leader Arun Jaitley said, expressing skepticism over the prime minister's statement.

Expressing satisfaction over the talks held with National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said, "I can say that the meeting was successful. We were able to make the prime minister understand the mood of the nation."

Talking about Dr Singh's tough message to Pakistan -- that there cannot be business as usual with it in the aftermath of the barbaric beheading of an Indian soldier -- Swaraj said, "I felt happy, even if it is late, the prime minister has understood the mood of the nation and what the opposition had talked about."

The prime minister had earlier deputed NSA Shivshankar Menon to brief Leaders of Opposition in Parliament on the situation arising out of the incident along the Line of Control. Menon held an hour-long meeting with the two BJP leaders.

Swaraj said during their meeting with Menon, they had conveyed to him that expression of protests and displeasure was fine, but the government should understand the anger of the nation and take tough measures against the neighbouring country.