Cutting across party affiliations, Lok Sabha members on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to explain why he suddenly offered his hand of friendship to Pakistan.

They demanded a discussion and said the prime minister should take the House into confidence about the latest developments in Indo-Pak ties.

Raising the issue immediately after the House assembled in the morning, Samata Party member Prabhunath Singh -- an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance -- said, "We are not against dialogue [with Pakistan], but there must be some basis for it."

Whenever India had initiated talks with Pakistan, 'we had to face problems', he said.

He said, "Since Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and the prime minister had made it clear that no talks would be held unless ISI-sponsored terrorists withdrew from the Indian soil, I would urge the prime minister to take the House into confidence..."

Amidst the din, Samajwadi Party member Ramjilal Suman echoed his thoughts and reminded the House about the failed summits in Lahore and Agra.

Congress member S Jaipal Reddy said the prime minister, his deputy and the external affairs ministry were speaking in different voices.