Some Congress leaders seen offering support' to Pakistan, says BJP

New Delhi: BJP on Tuesday targeted Congress alleging that some of its leaders are "seen offering support to Pakistan" after Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought up Balochistan and PoK in his Independence Day speech and said it's a sad commentary that it is divided on issues of national interests.

It said while the main opposition party offered support to Modi on his reference to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Balochistan in an all-party meeting on August 12, its leaders were outside seen offering support to Pakistan. "As far as international issues are concerned India should speak with one voice. But unfortunately Congress party is not speaking in one voice. There is a statement from Salman Khurshid, there is a statement by Kapil Sibal, subsequently a statement given by Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala," party leader M Venkaiah Naidu, who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister, said.

The saffron party was aggressive in its attack on Congress at its briefing in which its National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh targeted it. "It's a sad commentary as to how Congress is divided on issues of national interest. This division of the party and its leaders had reflected in the joint statement at Sharm el-Sheikh," he said, referring to the Indo-Pak statement which spoke about threats in Balochistan and invited strong criticism from BJP, then in opposition.

"Its leaders are seen to be supporting Pakistan...It is obvious that the country is supporting Modi on his comments on Balochistan and PoK," Singh said.

Khurshid had yesterday accused Modi of "ruining" India's case on PoK by raking up the issue of Balochistan in his Independence Day address. But later, Congress distanced itself from the remarks and asked the government to raise the issue of "atrocities in Balochistan and PoK" in bilaterals with Pakistan as also at international forums.

"They (Pakistan) are trying to give us lectures about Kashmir, that's why we have told them about what is happening in Balochistan, PoK and Gilgit. Let them focus on human rights violations, massacre and atrocities there," Naidu said on the sidelines of an event.

Singh also attacked former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his dig at the government on its handling of the situation in the Valley and said he and his father (Farooq Abdullah) state one thing in Parliament and another outside.

He said Pakistan had lost a golden opportunity given by Modi by rejecting his hand of peace, inviting questions from the media as to whether the Prime Minister's reference to PoK and Balochistan was driven by the failure of his peace exercise.

"The government has evaluated and come up with a policy which is in the best interest of the country," Singh replied.

To a poser about Chief Justice of India T S Thakur expressing his disappointment yesterday on Modi making no mention about appointment of judges in his Independence Day address, the BJP leader said patience was needed on the matter as the "bouquet is being prepared to be offered" to the judiciary.

He also appeared to be supporting the Karnataka Police decision to register an FIR under IPC sections, including sedition, after anti-India slogans were raised at an Amnesty International India event. "The law has to take its course," he said.