Angry BJP tells Pakistan to mend ways

New Delhi/Mumbai: The Congress and the BJP on Wednesday closed ranks to slam Pakistan over its remark that a Narendra Modi government will “destabilise” peace in the region and warned it not to interfere in the country’s electoral process.

A livid BJP, which is projected to be the single largest party in the Lok Sabha polls, also went on to remind Pakistan to “mend” its ways, saying the “manner” in which it has been functioning with India “will not work” anymore. The Congress said the remark was “condemnable and unfortunate”.

The two parties came together while reacting to Pakistan interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s remark on Tuesday that Mr Modi, if elected as India’s Prime Minister, would “destabilise” regional peace.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit, meanwhile, said that Pakistan has an “interest” in the ongoing elections but “our assessment won’t make a difference”.

“Whoever forms the new government, we would definitely want to get along and solve the issues between the two nations,” he told reporters in Mumbai. BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said, “We will tell Islamabad to mend their ways, the manner in which they have been functioning and trying to work with India will not work.”.

Union Minister Manish Tewari said Mr Khan’s statement is very unfortunate, condemnable and Pakistan must do introspection on it. He said Pakistan should hand over Dawood to India if he is taking shelter in that country.