News
Saturday, July 17, 2010
BJP opposes Indo-Pak talks* BJP spokesman criticises Qureshi for ‘irresponsible’ remarks about Krishna
By Iftikhar Gilani
NEW DELHI: India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday demanded the government put an end to the dialogue process with Pakistan, and also criticised Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad lashed out against Qureshi for his “irresponsible” remarks about India’s External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, and expressed his dismay at Krishna’s refusal to hit back against the Pakistani foreign minister. “Dignity, etiquette, and diplomacy are all right, but equally important is the nation’s pride and dignity that have been hurt as any insult against Krishna is an insult against India,” Prasad told reporters.
He asked the Indian government to review the entire dialogue process with Pakistan due to its “futility”. He also criticised Qureshi for complaining against Krishna’s phone calls to his government during the talks. “Why can’t the foreign minister of a democratic country talk to his prime minister?” Prasad asked.
“The government better tell Pakistan for the last time that there will be no dialogue unless it fulfils the January 4, 2004 agreement to demolish the terror infrastructure,” Prasad said.
Angry at the publicity given to Qureshi’s views by the Indian media, Prasad said: “India better think to what extent Pakistan should be given media coverage, as it converts every dialogue forum into a media opportunity.”
Referring to Krishna’s assertion at the joint press conference that Pakistan had so far not given any evidence over India’s involvement in Balochistan, Prasad asked why then was the issue mentioned in the joint statement issued by Indian and Pakistani prime ministers at Sharm-el Sheikh.
Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, who is leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also criticised Pakistan, and asked the government to call off any further talks, as “they serve no purpose”
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk