Terming United Nations designating Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) Chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and making China support the issue as a matter of pride for India, the BJP on Thursday said that the Opposition was not appreciating the achievement as it is apprehensive of paying a political price for it.
BJP said Pakistan terrorist’s sanctioning by the UN was a big victory for Indian diplomacy and credited BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “tireless efforts” at various bilateral and multi-lateral for a for this success.
The UN Sanctions Committee Wednesday designated the Pakistan-based JeM Chief a global terrorist after China lifted its technical objection on a proposal to ban him.
Addressing a press conference here senior BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley decried Congress for saying “what is the big deal” and accused it of foregoing old traditions of speaking in one-voice on international issues. He said the grand old party is gradually turning into a “ fringe organisaton” whose leaders don’t feel shy of joining “tukde-tukde gang”. He wondered whether past Congress Prime Ministers including Rajiv Gandhi would have practiced the politics of the incumbent leaders.
Without naming Congress General Secretary Priyanka Vadra Gandhi , the BJP leader said her comments reduce the party to a “ vote-katua party”. In one of the election rallies, Priyanaka said Congress candidates would ensure that they damage BJP nominees.
Answering a question on Congress leaders refurbishing their Hindu image, Jaitley said they were “Choonavi Hindu” (Hindus who surface during elections).
On India’s success on making China come round to Indian position on Azhar issue, he said change attitude was impacted by recent developments including Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir and expose of Pakistan post-Balakot IAF strike where he said Azhar’s camp was destroyed.
Jaitley said India has been the target of Azhar’s outfit and efforts to declare him a global terrorist started in 2009, 2016 and 2017. It is combine international pressure and Indian diplomacy that together succeeded in cornering him this time round, he said.
In a swipe, the BJP leader said Congress-led-UPA regime with “ unknown surgical strike” suspects Balakot air strike under Modi-government. On making Nationalism as election issue, Jaitley said BJP stands on the theme of Nationalism, Prime Minister’s leadership and Government’s performance. He said BJP has sought to contrast Congress Nationalism which among others wants to remove sedition law and dilute army’s powers in terror infested Jammu and Kashmir.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who also addressed the conference attributed the success of sanctioning of JeM chief to the leadership of Prime Minister. “ It is the untiring efforts of Prime Minister that isolated Pakistan”, she said.