Randeep Surjewala criticises PM Modi over ‘grand welcome’ to Saudi prince

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for receiving Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the airport and asked whether according a “grand welcome” to those who praised Pakistan’s “anti-terror” efforts was his way of remembering the Pulwama attack martyrs.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed-bin Salman arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening and was warmly received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport.

Congress’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Twitter with photographs of Modi hugging the crown prince and sharing a laugh at the airport said “National interests v/s Modiji’s ‘hugplomacy’ breaking protocol, a grand welcome to those who pledged USD 20 billion to Pakistan and praised Pakistan’s ‘anti-terror’ efforts. Is it your way of remembering martyrs of Pulwama?”

In his another tweet, Surjewala urged the Prime Minister to “show courage” and ask Saudi Arabia to undo its joint statement with Pakistan. “Modiji, is asking for a terrorist to be designated as such politicisation of UN listings? Would you show courage to ask Saudi Arabia to undo their ‘Joint Statement’ with Pak virtually rejecting India’s demand for designating Masood Azhar as a ‘global terrorist’?” he tweeted.

A day after concluding his tour of Pakistan, crown prince arrived in India. He is on a three-country Asian tour as the kingdom seeks to recover its reputation after last year’s murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He is to leave India late Wednesday and is expected to spend two days in China.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman after signed off deals worth $20 bn with Pakistan. His visit comes days after a Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed’s suicide bomber killed over 40 CRPF personnel.