Weak UPA foreign policy to blame for Devyani case, border: BJP

BJP did not favour cordial and friendly relations with other countries at the expense of India's self-esteem

BJP today slammed the Congress-led UPA government for what it said was its weak foreign policy, which the party alleged had led to situations like the one involving the diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the US and failed to prevent repeated violations along the borders with Pakistan and China.

Addressing the gathering at the BJP National Council here, party president Rajnath Singh stressed that while his party favours cordial and friendly relations with other countries, it could not be at the expense of India's self-esteem.

The BJP chief said that relations with the US have hit a low which was not seen even after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime.

"However much we condemn the undue harassment meted out to our diplomat (Khobragade) on American soil, it would not be enough.

"The US view of this incident is completely unreasonable and condemnable," Singh said.

BJP also demanded that India hold back the granting of Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan in the wake of recent incidents at the border.

India has made several attempts to improve relations with Pakistan, but those have ended in failure as Islamabad has not followed up its pronouncements with action, Singh said.

"While UPA government claims it has no dialogue with Pakistan, prime ministers of the two countries, lawmakers and officials have been holding regular meetings.

"A meeting between foreign ministers of India and Pakistan commences today," Singh said, adding that the UPA government was allegedly trying to fool the people by claiming it was not a dialogue.

Singh said Pakistani forces have not only killed Indian soldiers but also beheaded them and displayed the head as a trophy in front of cameras.

Expressing concern over intrusions by Chinese soldiers into Indian territory, Singh said it was even more worrisome that the neighbouring country was trying to create an anti- India atmosphere in the region.