NEW DELHI: Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan believes that the BJP wins the upcoming general elections will boost India-Pakistan talks in the future.
The Pak PM was quoted by Reuters that if Congress wins the general elections, it might be too scared to talk but if PM Modi’s BJP comes to power, there may be a better chance of peace talks with India and settle the Kashmir issue.
“Perhaps if the BJP — a right-wing party — wins, some kind of settlement in Kashmir could be reached,” said Khan.
Khan’s remark opened a flood gate of comments and reactions on social media.
1) Imran Khan is endorsing PM Modi so in effect he is saying #MainBhiChowkidar 2) BJP is coming back so he is more worried 3)Talks if any will be at GoI discretion not as per #ImranKhan or ISI wishes 4) Leave us Bhakts.. You should be more worried coz all 3 points above 😂
— Rosy (@rose_k01) April 10, 2019
Imran Khan is supporting BJP in elections. Now, who is a real Pakistani in India? 😝 pic.twitter.com/NNOiTOVh6K
— Nitin Sinha (@NsNitinsinha) April 10, 2019
The Congress and other opposition parties use Khan’s statement and said that a vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a vote for Pakistan.
Congress’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala launched a blistering attack on Modi over Khan’s comments.
Pak has officially allied with Modi!
‘A vote for Modi is a vote for Pakistan’, says Pak PM Imran Khan
मोदीजी, पहले नवाज़ शरीफ़ से प्यार और अब ईमरान खान आपका चहेता यार!
ढोल की पोल खुल गयी है।
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 10, 2019
So much for Modi Sahib telling the country only Pakistan & its sympathisers want BJP to lose. Imran Khan has just endorsed him for a 2nd term – BJP election win will boost chances of Pak-India talks: Imran | The Express Tribune https://t.co/tagBzQr5kY
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 10, 2019
Condemning the statement of Pakistan PM, the AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said Khan has no right to interfere in India’s electoral process.
“I condemn the statement of Imran Khan. He has no right to interfere in the electoral process of a great country like India. He comes from a country where the electoral process is controlled by their Army and ISI. We have free and fair elections. It is completely wrong on part of Imran Khan to say that he wants Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India so that Kashmir issue can be solved. I would like to remind him that Kashmir is not anybody’s private property,” Owaisi told reporters after casting his vote here.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury lashed out at Prime Minister Modi over Khan’s remarks, saying now it was known who Pakistan wants as PM.
“Pakistan has been the only issue of Modi’s election campaign, where he has scurrilously tried to link it to the opposition. Now we know who Pakistan actually wants as PM, the only Indian PM to have invited ISI to a military base, and the only one who went to Pakistan uninvited,” he said.
“We have serious concerns about foreign governments influencing our democratic election process. Last year, it was reported that ISI wants Modi as PM. Now Pakistani PM says it,” Yechury said.
Aam Aadmi Party Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also seized on Khan’s remarks, saying if Modi wins in the general election, crackers will be burst in Pakistan.
“Why does Pakistan want Modi Ji to win. Modi Ji should tell the country how deep are his relations with Pakistan. All Indians should know that if Modi wins, crackers will be burst in Pakistan.
With agencies inputs