Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Mission Pakistan” could receive a setback from BJP hardliners and the Sangh Parivar if they continue to raise the issue of construction of a Ram temple at the disputed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Mission Pakistan” could receive a setback from BJP hardliners and the Sangh Parivar if they continue to raise the issue of construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. On the other hand, the main Opposition Congress on Saturday said: “A headline does not a foreign policy make.”
Will the Prime Minister check hardliners in his Cabinet, in the BJP and the Sangh Parivar who have become leaders, MPs, legislators on the back of the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections Their silence on the PM’s meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Nawaz Sharif, in Lahore on Friday is significant.
Meanwhile, AICC spokesperson R.P.N. Singh said on Saturday: “A headline does not make foreign policy.”
While recalling how the BJP used to ridicule talks with Pakistan when it was in the Opposition, he viewed the Central government has realised the importance of dialogue after 18 months.
But in Chandigarh, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Amarinder Singh said: “I am all for peace and have always maintained peace.”
“When I was CM, Indo-Pak games were held. 4,500 visas were issued for a cricket match here,” he said. “During my visit to Pakistan, I had met Pervez Elahi who was the then CM (of Pakistan’s Punjab). We decided to start exchange of doctors, students etc,” he said, according to a PTI report.
In Guwahati, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said a robust foreign policy could sustain itself only on the edifice of a strong domestic policy.
“PM Modi’s current concern is all about foreign affairs and speaking out his mind (Mann Ki Baat) to people of foreign countries rather than listening to the voices of the people of the country who have made him Prime Minister with high hopes and expectations that achchhe din would come,” Mr Gogoi said.
