Attitude of Pak Govt. cannot be tolerated: NCP on media curb during SAARC summit

The Nationalist Congress Party on Friday condemned Pakistan Government after the Indian media was not allowed to participate during Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's speech in the 7th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Home Minsters' conference.

NCP leader Nawab Malik told ANI that attitude of Pakistan Government cannot be tolerated and demanded Government of India to raise the matter with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif .

"The way Pakistan Government has given treatment to Rajnath Singh, it is highly objectionable. He is representing 125 crore people of the country," he said.

"This kind of censorship cannot be tolerated. We demand from the Government of India to pressurise Pakistan and make them apologise over the treatment given to Rajnath Singh during the SAARC summit," he added.

During the summit, Singh's speech was blacked out. Members of the Indian media, who had come from New Delhi to report on the conference, were not allowed to cover the speech. They were reportedly kept at a distance by Pakistani officials.

Some reports said that there was an aggressive verbal exchange between officials of the two sides over the issue. Only Pakistan state PTV was allowed to cover introductory speeches of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan. Even private Pakistani media not allowed to cover the event.

Media reports also said his scheduled news conference at the Delhi Airport was cancelled.

During his terse speech, Singh launched a veiled attack on Pakistan, saying mere condemnation of terrorism and individual acts by terrorists was not enough and categorically stated that there is no good or bad terrorist.