Modi-Sharif meet in national interest, PM doesn't need 'certificate': BJP

Responding to the criticism of the Congress Party on the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet Nawaz Sharief, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said that Prime Minister does not need anyone's certificate on the steps taken by him in national interest.

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain's remarks came after the Congress Party yesterday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa, Russia, asking what were the "circumstances" for the meeting to be called.

"The Congress Party always questions. The country's youth has faith in the Prime Minister, and the steps taken by him to keep the country on a strong foothold. Fuelled by patriotism , Prime Minister Modi takes the decisions, and he does not not need anyone's certificate," Hussain told ANI here.

Prime Minister Modi, who met Pakistan counterpart Sharif on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the Russian city of Ufa , also accepted an invitation to attend the regional SAARC summit in Islamabad next year.

The announcements were made after a meeting between the Prime Ministers that began with a warm handshake and ran longer than planned.

The statement made no reference to Kashmir.

Their last formal talks were in May 2014 when Sharif attended Prime Minister Modi's swearing-in ceremony in Delhi.