A day after Prime Minister Modi underscored the importance of probing foreign interference, Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan's former minister, reaffirmed his support for India's opposition in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. On May 28, Chaudhry stated that every Pakistani desires Modi's defeat, and extended his best wishes to Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and Mamata Banerjee, emphasizing that defeating Modi is essential for restoring India-Pakistan relations.
Former Imran Khan’s Cabinet Minister Fawad Chaudhry (Image Source - IANS)
Fawad Chaudhry Showed Support for I.N.D.I. Alliance
In an interview with IANS, Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan's former minister, perpetuated an anti-Muslim narrative to falsely depict the persecution of Muslims and minorities in India. He argued that the alleged oppressive ideology towards Muslims in Kashmir and India necessitates Prime Minister Modi's defeat. Previously, on May 1, Chaudhry had tweeted in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, reposting a video in which Gandhi criticized the Modi government.
Several leaders of the I.N.D.I. Alliance have stirred controversy and faced criticism for expressing pro-Pakistan sentiments. Notably, on May 25, Congress candidate from Jalandhar and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi stated that if Congress comes to power, they will reopen the India-Pakistan border. This statement followed a warning from the Election Commission of India regarding his objectionable remarks, where he referred to the Poonch terror attack as a "stuntbaazi," absolving Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.
Fawad Chaudhry’s Comments
Speaking with the news agency IANS, Fawad Chaudhry peddled the anti-Muslim trope to peddle the false propaganda of Muslims and minorities being persecuted and oppressed in India. He said that Muslims in Kashmir and India are being oppressed by extremist ideology which makes it important to defeat PM Modi.
Extending wishes to the I.N.D.I. Alliance leaders, Chaudhry said, “…The benefit of the Indian voter lies in having a good relationship with Pakistan. India should move ahead as a progressive country, and that is why Narendra Modi and his extreme ideology need to be defeated. Whoever defeats him, whether it is Rahul Ji, Kejriwal Ji, or Mamata Banerjee, best wishes to them.”
Fawad Chaudhry further claimed, “Every Pakistani wants PM Modi to be defeated. India-Pakistan ties can be restored only when extremism comes down both in India and Pakistan. Pakistanis don’t have animosity towards India.”
Earlier, Chaudhry had posted tweets in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. On 1st May, he supported senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he reposted a video of the Gandhi scion’s polemics against the Modi government. In a tweet promoting Rahul Gandhi, Chaudhry tweeted, “Rahul on fire…”.
The Pakistan leader said he had no fondness for Rahul Gandhi or Arvind Kejriwal and neither his opinion represented that of the Pakistan government. "...but I will support anyone standing out against extremists and #Modi has become a symbol of hatred and extremism Muslims of India are facing extreme hatred due to the rise of Hindu Mahasabha, founders of Pak made a promise to stand for the rights of Muslims living in India it’s unfortunate Govt of Pak is not playing its role but in whatever capacity I’ll speak for Muslim rights in India and one aspect is forces of hatred must be defeated and RSS+BJP nexus of hatred and extremism must be defeated and anyone who defeats them will earn global respect…" Fawad posted amid controversy.
PM Modi’s Remarks
Amidst the mutual support between the opposition and Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi recently criticized the opposition for their alignment with Pakistan. On May 24, while addressing rallies in Punjab's Gurdaspur and Jalandhar, PM Modi harshly critiqued the Congress party, accusing it of "echoing the sentiments of Pakistan." He asserted that Congress would initiate gestures of friendship with Pakistan, a country notorious for sponsoring terrorism against India, and claimed that several Congress leaders have been fostering such an environment.
Slamming the I.N.D.I. Alliance and its strategy concerning National Security, PM Modi said, “These I.N.D.I. Alliance people are a great danger to the security of the country. They are talking about reintroducing Article 370 in Kashmir. They want terrorism back in Kashmir. They want to hand over Kashmir to separatists again. They will send messages of friendship to Pakistan again. They will send roses to Pakistan. Pakistan will carry out bomb blasts.”
PM Modi added, “There will be terrorist attacks on the country. Congress will say, we have to talk no matter what. For this, Congress has already started creating an atmosphere. Their leaders are saying, Pakistan has an atomic bomb. Their people are saying, we’ll have to live in fear of Pakistan. These I.N.D.I. Alliance people are speaking Pakistan’s language.”
Responding to Pakistan’s support to the I.N.D.I. Alliance leaders including Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said, “The interesting thing is that Congress is dying here and Pakistan is crying. You must have heard that now Pakistani leaders are praying for Congress. Pakistan is eager to make ‘Shehzada’ (Rahul Gandhi) prime minister. You must have seen it yesterday. We already know that Congress likes Pakistan. The alliance between the two has been completely exposed.”
During an exclusive interview with the news agency IANS, Prime Minister Modi addressed Pakistan's endorsement of Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, particularly in light of significant events such as the revocation of Article 370. PM Modi underscored the resilience of India's democracy and the unwavering resolve of Indian voters against external influences. However, he acknowledged the gravity of investigating any foreign interference, emphasizing the need to safeguard the integrity of India's electoral process.
PM Modi said, “I am not aware why certain people are liked by those who harbour animosity towards us. Why does support emerge from there (Pakistan) for a few individuals? This is a matter that requires thorough investigation.”
Conclusion
The long-standing relationship between Pakistan and the Congress party in India has often raised eyebrows, with critics pointing to instances where the interests of one seemed to align with the other's. The aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks serves as a stark reminder of this dynamic, where despite the Indian Army's readiness to retaliate, the Congress-led central government's perceived reluctance to take decisive action drew criticism. Many believe that this hesitance by Congress has also contributed to the loss of territory in Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan in the past. Moreover, the ongoing terrorism in Kashmir is often attributed to Pakistan's support for militants infiltrating via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The fear persists that a return of Congress to power could see a revival of soft policies towards Pakistan, potentially exacerbating tensions and security challenges not only in Kashmir but the entire Nation.
Comments