Congress speaking language of Pakistan: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP has slammed Congress for criticising External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s speech at the United Nations, saying the main opposition has broken the convention of not questioning the government’s stand at international fora. The ruling party has alleged that in the past few months Congress has “synchronised” its views with Pakistan and hence lost its moral right to claim that it is the party of Mahatma Gandhi.

At a press interaction on Monday, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi raised doubts about nationalist credentials of Congress and its senior leaders. He underlined that traditionally all political parties have toed the line taken by the government of the day on foreign policy issues.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said Swaraj’s Pakistan bashing at the UN is aimed at BJP voters.


“In Indian Parliamentary history and in Independent India it has been a convention that all political parties hold the same view on foreign policy. The view of the government is considered India’s view and not that of the (ruling) party. Unfortunately, for the first time the statement of the minister has been criticised openly,” Trivedi said, adding that this gives the impression that Congress is walking the same path that is taken by Pakistan.

BJP demanded that Tharoor tender an apology for his negative remarks.

“This is not an isolated incident. The intent, language and style followed by Congress is similar to that of Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.

He enumerated past instances to drive home his point. Congress President Rahul Gandhi had compared RSS to the Islamic Brotherhood while Pakistan has often made unsavoury remarks against the Sangh fountainhead.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad had alleged that Indian army kills more civilians than militants in Jammu and Kashmir, a charge made by Pakistan as well.

“Even on Rafale fighter jets which are being acquired to counter Pakistan, Congress and Pakistan are speaking in the same voice. The question arises as to why this is so?” Trivedi said. He dismissed the contention that Congress is making these noises only as it is in the opposition today and insisted the party behaved in the same manner when it was in power.

BJP maintained that the saffron terror remarks by then Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, the Congress government stand on Samjhauta blast, the joint declaration at Sharm-el Shaikh that mentioned Balochistan were some examples of how Congress had given Pakistan a handle to take on India.