BJP slams Pakistani minister's remarks on Modi

The BJP Wednesday denounced Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan's comments that Narendra Modi's election as prime minister will destabilise the region, saying Islamabad should not interfere in India's internal affairs.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said her party will tell Pakistan to "mend their ways".

"Anybody who is democratically elected has every right to represent his country internationally," she said.

Referring to Chaudhry Nisar's statement, Lekhi said Modi did not make any remark about attacking Pakistan to bring back fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

She said Modi had questioned Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on the need of making public remarks about India's talks with the US on tracking Dawood Ibrahim.

Lekhi asked if the Pakistani minister was admitting that Dawood Ibrahim, wanted in India for the 1993 serial bombings in Mumbai, was based in Pakistan.

"We will tell Islamabad to mend their ways. The manner in which they have been functioning (vis-a-vis India) will not work. India is very clear about not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

"Similarly, we expect Pakistan to respect the same sentiments of the Indian people and not to intervene in the internal matters (of India)."

According to Pakistani media, Chaudhry Nisar said Modi had crossed "all limits" in his display of enmity towards Pakistan and Muslims and his election as India's prime minister would destabilise the region.

He said Modi's alleged remark on attacking Pakistan to bring back Dawood Ibrahim, widely believed to be living in Karachi, was "irresponsible and shameful".

"Modi should first decide where Dawood Ibrahim is living, and then he should dream of attacking Pakistan," Chaudhry Nisar was quoted as saying.

Lekhi wondered who was briefing Chaudhry Nisar about Modi's purported comments.

"Whether Dawood is tried for the 1993 blasts in Mumbai, whether he is brought back to India, it is beyond the realm of Pakistan. What have they got to do (with) the 1993 blasts? Is there any involvement which Pakistan is worried about? Is Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan?" she asked.

"Modi made no such statement. Modi asked a question to Shinde."

The Congress also slammed the Pakistani minister's remarks.

"Who will be chosen (as prime minister) is the country's decision. We do not need advise from Pakistan," party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said.