Concrete steps would have strengthened Sushma's position at UN: Congress

The Congress on Monday said that had the government taken more concrete steps against Pakistan following the Uri attack, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's position at United Nations General Assembly would have been stronger.

"Whenever an Indian representative speaks on foreign soil, it's not the time for politics. The entire country stands behind him or her. The whole country is behind Sushma Swaraj.

But, actions taken by the government was were behind her to strengthen her position. Had she gone to the UN with certain concrete steps taken by the government against Pakistan, her position would have been stronger," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

He further blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not taking concrete steps.

"Had Mr. Modi instead of speaking in Kozikhode, at cabinet meetings, and Twitter, done most of the simple minimally invasive things, how much more she (Sushma Swaraj) would have been strengthened," said Singhvi.

"They have not yet called a parliament session to declare Pakistan a terrorist state, they have not done anything to withdraw the MFN (most-favoured nation) status of Pakistan, they have not imposed severe economic sanctions against Pakistan," he said.

Singhvi also said no effort has been made to scale down the High Commissions of both the countries.

"They have not attempted in any way to deal on the ground with concrete actions. Some attempts have been made to isolate Pakistan globally, but that's not enough. These things had to be done before we reached the UN. Then the same UN speech would have resonated more strongly. That is our regret and our sense of unfulfilled aspiration," he said.

India on Monday forcefully asked the world to isolate Pakistan for nurturing terrorism and firmly advised Islamabad to stop dreaming it can ever capture Jammu and Kashmir with the help of its aided terrorists.

Sushma Swaraj lashed out at Pakistan in her reply to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address to the UN General Assembly last week.

--IANS

sid/vd