Modi questions need for Singh-Sharif talks
Trichy: Narendra Modi on Thursday questioned the need for dialogue between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif when soldiers and innocent people are being killed ‘day and night’ by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a rally here, he attacked the Centre for ‘pursuing a weak’ policy in dealing with Pakistan.
"How is it that Pakistani soldiers come to our soil, behead our soldiers and take back their heads. What is the reason that Pakistan soldiers kill our jawans on the border and the government in Delhi cites protocol to feed the Pakistani Prime Minister biryani," Modi asked.
"More soldiers have been killed by bullets of terrorists than in the battle field. I am anguished that there is such a government in Delhi," he said.
In twin strikes, terrorists stormed a police station and then an army camp in Jammu region killing 10 people including an army officer after they sneaked in from across the border early today, barely three days ahead of a meeting between prime ministers of India and Pakistan.
On the proposed talks, Modi said, "I want to ask you one question – When our soldiers and innocent citizens are being killed day and night; terrorists keep troubling us, killing our innocent people, in such a scenario is it not a hasty decision by central government to hold talks with Pakistani leaders."
"One question which comes to the mind of every citizen is that are we so weak that our neighbours do whatever they want and we don't react. Why are we forced to bear all these atrocities silently by keeping our eyes closed," he asked.
In his address, Modi also attacked the Centre on the issue of arrests of Indian fishermen by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
"Pakistan captures a large number of fishermen off Gujarat coast and keeps them in jail for six months to one year. They torture them. This tradition is now being followed by Sri Lanka. The problem is not in the seas but with the Centre," he said.
Asking people to throw out the UPA government, he said a weak Centre has emboldened India's neighbours. "The main reason for such a scenario is that neighbouring countries take India for granted. It is the main cause of all these problems." Referring to the killing of two fishermen in February last year allegedly by two Italian marines, he said, "I am astounded that people from Italy can come and kill fishermen off the Kerala coast in this country of 1.2 billion people." Modi also attacked the Centre for the economic slowdown.
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