Put aside political identity, think as one nation: BJP to Cong on questions about Trump visit

Taking on the Congress over its scepticism about US President Donald Trump's visit to India, the BJP on Saturday said this trip will be a landmark moment in Indo-US relations and the opposition party should take pride in the "nation's achievements".

The BJP also said there are times when political parties should keep aside their identities and "think as one nation".

This comes a day after the Congress said Trump's visit should not become an extension of the US presidential election campaign but yield concrete results for India.

The visit should not be reduced to a photo opportunity or a PR exercise that would devalue the importance of Indo-US partnership, the Congress had said.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Sambit Patra asked the Congress why it was unhappy when the country's stature is being raised.

"This is a meeting of the world's largest and oldest democracies and it should be celebrated," he said.

"There are times when political parties should keep aside their identities and think as one nation," he said.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Patra asked if 10 Janpath (residence of party president Sonia Gandhi) had allowed former prime minister Manmohan Singh to develop Prime Minister Narendra Modi-like rapport with international leaders.

Trump's visit will be a landmark moment in Indo-US relations and the Congress should "start taking pride in the nation's achievements", he added.

Responding to the Congress' questions about what the country will gain from this visit, Patra said the latest defense equipment and the deals that the US was offering to India were never offered during the UPA regime.

Underlining that Trump himself has said multiple times that India is a hard bargainer, the BJP spokesperson said the Congress should not be worried about India's interests.

Patra said close cooperation with the White House has ensured that India remains at the front and centre of Trump's strategic blueprint.

With PM Modi's hardwork, India's relations with other countries have further strengthened from Sochi to Mallapuram, he said.