Cong backs Yashwant Sinha, says India "suffering" due to failed promises

The Congress on Sunday used former union minister Yashwant Sinha's diatribe against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's policy with regard to Pakistan to corner the ruling dispensation and said it is extremely unfortunate that the NDA regime has failed to fulfil the promises made to the nation.

Dubbing the present relationship between India and Pakistan as sad, Congress spokesperson Tom Vaddkkan said Sinha, who knows this government better, has now realised that the BJP has failed miserably in fulfilling the promises made to the nation.

"Yashwant Sinha knows his government better, he has realised that promises have failed. Especially, the initial promise that relations with our neighbours will improve and that would be the main focus of the NDA government," Vaddkan told ANI.

"But apparently it's very clear that this is a case of a failed government. They have failed with Nepal, they have failed with Pakistan and they failed with China. It's unfortunate that these promises that were made, we were expecting that this government would at least improve the relationship that existed. But what we see today is a sad state of affairs, but it's our country that is suffering," he added.

Sinha earlier today alleged that India's current policy with Pakistan was a complete failure and called on the Modi government to take action against the hostile neighbour or continue to face attacks like Pathankot and Pampore.

The former finance minister stated that the continuous assaults on the Indian defence, which has resulted in the deaths of several personnel, have given birth to a war-like situation between India and Pakistan.

"When these numbers of our people are being slaughtered, it's a clear open attack on India by Pakistan. It is with great distress that I am saying that our government's policy towards Pakistan has failed. There are still many leaders, who will call for cordiality with Pakistan saying they are 'bechara'. They are not 'bechara', they have been attacking us for years and now, they are targeting our defence personnel head on," Sinha said.

Calling on the Centre to muster courage and make Pakistan accountable for all they have done, Sinha said that there was absolutely no reason for India to be afraid.

"If we never question Pakistan and keep 'bowing down' to them then attacks like those in Pathankot and Pampore will continue. After incidents like Pathankot, we bang our chests and weep and then forget about it," he added.

Stating the time has come to teach Pakistan a lesson, Sinha said, "If they have nuclear weapons, so do we. For the government, I am under the category of brain dead as I do not even have the status to give an opinion. But I have continuously opposed this government's policy towards Pakistan.