Congress calls Modi’s Lahore visit 'pre-arranged'

New Delhi: Congress on Friday claimed that PrimeMinister Narendra Modi's stopover in Lahore was "pre-arranged" while accusing his government of pursuing a Pakistan policy in "fits and starts and abrupt U-turns" even as BJP ally Shiv Sena and VHP asked if the visit will enable India get hold of Dawood Ibrahim, Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

Questioning Modi's "unscheduled" visit, Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said his engagement with Pakistan is "frivolous, unpredictable, marked by fits and starts and abrupt U-turns".

He asked what assurances has the Prime Minister got on bringing back or punishing perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, especially Lakhvi and on dismantling terror syndicates in Pakistan acting against India.

Questioning the intent behind his visit, Congress also rejected claims of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that the Prime Minister's move was 'statesman-like' and claimed that the visit was "pre-arranged" by a businessman.

"The same industrialist who has business partnership with the ruling establishment in Pakistan was there for the last two days. This is out in the open," he said, asking the Prime Minister to reveal the name of the businessman himself.

"We are very clear that the Prime Minister is there to promote only private business interests and not India's national interest which should be supreme,"

"Diplomacy is serious, it must have gravitas and predictability. It cannot be frivolous, otherwise it will implode on Shri Narendra Modi's face," he told reporters here. Shiv Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad wondered whether the visit will lead to effective action against cross-border terrorism as well as terror masterminds like Dawood Ibrahim, Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi.

"Will Dawood Ibrahim be given to India after today's meeting (between Modi and Sharif)? If this happens, we welcome this visit," Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut said in Mumbai.

VHP international working president Pravin Togadia said in a statement issued in Allahabad that "we hope that Modi's tour of Pakistan leads to effective action by the neighbouring country against terrorists operating from their soil."

? ? ?"Pakistan is also the land where 1993 Mumbai serial blasts accused and underworld Dawood Ibrahim has been hiding for more than two decades. The neighboring country has so far been in a state of denial in this regard.

"We hope that our dashing and dynamic PM Modiji's intervention will bring about a radical change", Togadia said.

In Srinagar, Kashmiri separatists welcomed Modi's visit with moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq terming it "a  positive move" and hardline faction leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani saying they have no objection to improved relations between India and Pakistan.

"We do not have any issues with relations improving between India and Pakistan... No right thinking persons shall have any reservation on it. However, the two countries have to address the Kashmir issue as per wishes and aspirations of the people if these endeavours are to succeed," Geelani said.  

"It is a ridiculous position that the External Affairs Minister is claiming what is spontaneous and others are saying it is pre-discussed. It is unprecedented." Sharma said. He said his party would not accept any reply on these issues from the External Affairs Minister and asked the Prime Minister to make a statement on this on his return.

The senior Congress leader also questioned Swaraj's claims made in August that only terrorism and no comprehensive dialogue will be discussed with Pakistan and that there was no question of talks in a third country.

"What happened on December 7 in Bangkok, after the meeting in Paris? What was discussed was never disclosed to the country or the Parliament. Is Bangkok, Thailand not third country?" he asked.

Questioning the government for restarting the dialogue after abruptly calling off Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan after an invite was sent to Hurriyat Conferene last year, Sharma accused Modi of keeping the country in the dark on his engagements with Pakistan.

"Therefore, this visit raises fundamental questions," he said, accusing Modi of being there to promote private business interests and not national interests. Sharma asked the Prime Minister what assurances he has received from Pakistan during his visit and whether the establishment there has unequivocally endorsed India's position of dismantling terror infrastructure there and in punishing and trial of perpetrators of Mumbai attacks, especially of Lakhvi.