Qureshi remarks irk BJP, calls for end to dialogue
Regretting that home secretary G.K. Pillai was not “defended” by external affairs minister S.M. Krishna after Mr Pillai was bracketed with JuD chief and an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed by Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, the main Opposition BJP on Friday demanded that the government should
call off the dialogue with Pakistan. The BJP also condemned the language used against Mr Krishna and India by the Pakistan minister saying it was “utterly irresponsible”. The Congress however, said there was no option other than continuing with the talks, noting that effort should be made to bridge the trust deficit between India and Pakistan. The party also dubbed the statements of Mr Qureshi on Mr Krishna having a limited mandate as “completely unjustified and condemnable”.
Condemning the “utterly irresponsible comments” against India by the Pakistani foreign minister, BJP national spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad alleged that Pakistan is in a “state of denial” when it comes to terrorism. He said Mr Pillai had only stated a fact about ISI’s role in terror attacks in India but he was bracketed with Sayed by Mr Qureshi. Reacting on the issue, leader of Oppsoition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said, “I think the foreign minister of Pakistan does not know the ABC of diplomacy. He has to learn the basic elements of diplomacy, courtesy and respect. You may or may not agree with the other person but you cannot leave courtesy and respect due to him.” The Opposition leader insisted this was not the first time that the Pakistani side had behaved in this manner.
Meanwhile, dismissing criticism of the external affairs minister, the Congress asserted that he “fulfilled” the mandate given to him on talks with his Pakistani counterpart.
Contending that Mr Krishna conducted himself with “utmost dignity and restraint”, the party lamented the Pakistan’s approach during the talks by saying that the “tone and tenor” were negative and accusatory. “Pakistan’s tone and tenor at the talks were negative and accusatory,” AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said adding that this approach was “absolutely disappointing”.
The ruling party also dubbed the statements of Mr Qureshi on Mr Krishna having a limited mandate as completely unjustified and condemnable.
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