PM, Pranab to address Parliament today

Putting to rest speculations that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] was reluctant to address the Parliament -- on the Indo-Pakistan joint statement issued at Sharm el-Sheikh -- the Prime Minister's office has clarified that both the PM and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee [ Images ] will speak on the subject.

Media reports on Tuesday night had claimed that only Mukerjee would address the Parliament.

"What is the confusion about this matter? Both will speak on this subject," Harish Khare, the prime minister's media advisor, told rediff.com.

According to sources, new additions have been made to the PM's earlier statement. While defending the controversial joint statement, Dr Singh will explain the circumstances under which the statement was issued and also spell out the pre-conditions for resuming composite dialogue with Pakistan.