Digvijaya 'praises' Modi for behaving like an Indian PM on Pakistan

Sarcastically praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Saturday said that he had adopted a patient, non-confrontational approach while dealing with Pakistan as becoming of an Indian PM.

He also noted that Modi's belligerence, when Gujarat Chief Minister, on the Pakistan issue and constant barbs aimed at then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had evaporated since he himself took over the top post.

"The BJP... in particular the PM, he had been making aggressive statements as CM and levelling charges of incompetence and weakness against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But he is doing exactly what a PM of the government of India should do.

"Both are countries with nuclear weapons and therefore war should be the last resort. All efforts should be made to negotiate and bring pressure on Pakistan," Singh told reporters after meeting Congress workers here.

Singh called for an "aggressive campaign" to isolate Pakistan globally on the terrorism issue.

"The UN is discussing the issue of terrorism in New York. We have to identify and bring concrete proof of the involvement of Pakistan establishment in the terror activities. First, Pakistan said it is Jaish-e-Mohammad who has done it. Jaish-e-Mohammad chief is Azhar Masood who was let off by the NDA government in the hijacking case of Indian Airlines. The Congress party never compromises with people who are terrorists or are involved in terror," he said.

Singh also suggested that the Modi-led government's foreign policy was not up to the mark, claiming that old diplomatic allies like Russia were now making overtures to Pakistan.

"What is happening is even Russia who was our consistent friend, is unfortunately doing (military) exercises with Pakistan which has never happened before... This is an area of concern which the BJP should be looking at," he said.

On the Kashmir crisis, Singh also said: "What is happening in Kashmir is a matter of concern for all of us. The Congress party has always supported the government in power, even when we are in the opposition in matters of national security."

--IANS

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