The Congress party on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Pakistan, saying diplomacy cannot be fun and games but needs seriousness and maturity.
"Relation between India and Pakistan is important. Diplomacy needs seriousness and maturity, it's not a fun," senior Congress leader Anand Sharma told reporters here at a press conference.
Sharma rejected External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's claim that Modi's gesture was statesman like.
"I reject completely Sushma Swaraj's claim that this is statesman like," he said.
Sharma also claimed that Modi's Pakistan visit was pre-arranged and not a spontaneous decision.
"We think it was pre-arranged and not a spontaneous decision. An industrialist, who has a private business with ruling establishment in Pakistan is there already; so how is the PM visit spontaneous?," Sharma wondered.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
