Rahul gets flak from Pakistan ; stokes national debate
New Delhi, Apr 16: Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Pakistan's division in 1971 evoked a bitter response from Islamabad today and ignited heated debate within the country.
Pakistan said ''the leader only brought to the fore the real Indian motive behind the division.'' ''This is a clear admission from a civilian, who is a member of the family that ruled India in 1971,'' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said in reference to Rahul's remarks that Gandhi family was not one that did not keep its words.
Ms Aslam was, however, not willing to answer more questions on the issue, saying ''there is no reason why should we give importance to statements by such people.'' The BJP ridiculed Mr Gandhi's comments, saying it exposed his ''limited family world vision.'' The party described the statement as ''absurd'' and ''diplomatic disaster'' and added it was an ''insult to the revolutionaries and freedom fighters'' of the country.
It mocked Mr Gandhi and tried to chide him to give credit to the Gandhi family for partition of India, creation of Azad Kashmir, allowing Pakistan to hand over Aksai Chin to China, imposing Emergency in the country in 1975, promoting Bhindranwale, IPKF misadventure in Sri Lanka, protecting Bofors scandal prime accused Ottavio Quattrochhi and for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The Janata Dal (United) also strongly criticised Mr Gandhi for his remark, fearing it could derail the peace process with the neighbouring country and demanded that he, alongwith the Congress party and the UPA government, should immediately apologise for all his remarks.
JD(U) General Secretary and Spokesman Shambhu Shrivastava said that the statement of Mr Gandhi that Nehru-Gandhi family won freedom and divided Pakistan showed that ''he is an immature politician who has no comprehension of the consequences of what he is talking.'' The Congress, however, tried to shield Mr Gandhi by justifying his remark taking credit for the Gandhi family for dismemberment of Pakistan, saying he had only talked of history referring to a war which was thrust on India by that country.
''All parties have been highlighting the achievements of their leaders during their poll campaigns. It is but natural,'' Congress Spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi said, adding it was not a pre-meditated remark.
''Right from the BJP to BSP and Samajwadi Party all have been talking of the achievements of Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr Kanshi Ram and late Ram Manohar Lohia respectively during poll campaigns. What is then wrong in Mr Gandhi talking of a fact of history referring to the ultimate result of Bangladesh war which was thrust on us,'' Mr Chaturvedi asked talking to mediapersons here.
Substantiating his claim that Pakistan had thrust the war on India, he recalled that it was the bombardment of Agra and Chaklala in 1971 by Pakistan which provoked the Bangladesh war, which ultimately resulted in the dismemberment of Pakistan.
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=18812
New Delhi, Apr 16: Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Pakistan's division in 1971 evoked a bitter response from Islamabad today and ignited heated debate within the country.
Pakistan said ''the leader only brought to the fore the real Indian motive behind the division.'' ''This is a clear admission from a civilian, who is a member of the family that ruled India in 1971,'' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said in reference to Rahul's remarks that Gandhi family was not one that did not keep its words.
Ms Aslam was, however, not willing to answer more questions on the issue, saying ''there is no reason why should we give importance to statements by such people.'' The BJP ridiculed Mr Gandhi's comments, saying it exposed his ''limited family world vision.'' The party described the statement as ''absurd'' and ''diplomatic disaster'' and added it was an ''insult to the revolutionaries and freedom fighters'' of the country.
It mocked Mr Gandhi and tried to chide him to give credit to the Gandhi family for partition of India, creation of Azad Kashmir, allowing Pakistan to hand over Aksai Chin to China, imposing Emergency in the country in 1975, promoting Bhindranwale, IPKF misadventure in Sri Lanka, protecting Bofors scandal prime accused Ottavio Quattrochhi and for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The Janata Dal (United) also strongly criticised Mr Gandhi for his remark, fearing it could derail the peace process with the neighbouring country and demanded that he, alongwith the Congress party and the UPA government, should immediately apologise for all his remarks.
JD(U) General Secretary and Spokesman Shambhu Shrivastava said that the statement of Mr Gandhi that Nehru-Gandhi family won freedom and divided Pakistan showed that ''he is an immature politician who has no comprehension of the consequences of what he is talking.'' The Congress, however, tried to shield Mr Gandhi by justifying his remark taking credit for the Gandhi family for dismemberment of Pakistan, saying he had only talked of history referring to a war which was thrust on India by that country.
''All parties have been highlighting the achievements of their leaders during their poll campaigns. It is but natural,'' Congress Spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi said, adding it was not a pre-meditated remark.
''Right from the BJP to BSP and Samajwadi Party all have been talking of the achievements of Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr Kanshi Ram and late Ram Manohar Lohia respectively during poll campaigns. What is then wrong in Mr Gandhi talking of a fact of history referring to the ultimate result of Bangladesh war which was thrust on us,'' Mr Chaturvedi asked talking to mediapersons here.
Substantiating his claim that Pakistan had thrust the war on India, he recalled that it was the bombardment of Agra and Chaklala in 1971 by Pakistan which provoked the Bangladesh war, which ultimately resulted in the dismemberment of Pakistan.
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=18812
