PM Modi lacks comprehensive policy towards Pakistan: Opposition parties

Opposition parties today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not having a comprehensive policy towards Pakistan, saying diplomacy requires seriousness, gravitas and not "threatrics".

The government's foreign policy lacks coherence, clarity and consistency, they said.

The remarks by Congress and CPI(M) came a day after Modi said that India's efforts for engagement with Pakistan is on with peace as the supreme objective but the forces have "full freedom to answer back" in whatever manner they have to.

"Nobody is against engaging with Pakistan but what we have questioned him (Modi) is about not taking the opposition into confidence," Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said.

He said diplomacy does not require theatrics and needs seriousness, gravitas.

CPM leader Brinda Karat targeted the Centre, saying it does not have a comprehensive policy towards Pakistan.

She said it is really a "show-based" policy rather than a serious diplomatic initiative to deal with a neighbour which undoubtedly has been encouraging terrorists groups against India.

"One day you say you are going to bomb Pakistan. The other day your Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) said you are not going to count the bullets that are going to be used against Pakistan," Karat said, adding that the Prime Minister had gone to Pakistan to meet Nawaz Sharif on his birthday.

Congress leader P L Punia accused the government of having a "dual strategy" on the issue of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan saying on the one hand it appreciated his work, but agreed with what Subramanian Swamy said and bid good bye to him.

"Today our economy is passing through such a time that requires stability. There was a need for (his) continuity," he said.