Khurshid slams Modi for Balochistan reference in speech

Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ruining India’s case on Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) by raising the Balochistan issue.

However, within hours, the Congress distanced itself from his remarks. Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid felt that Modi was “ruining India’s claim to PoK” by raking up the Balochistan issue in his Independence Day address.

“PoK is our right, our entitlement. We will support it. But by bringing up Balochistan, you are ruining our case. We are going to ruin our own case on PoK,” Khurshid said.

Speaking to reporters on Monday evening, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala termed Khurshid’s remark as his “personal opinion”. “Be it Balochistan or Pak-occupied-Kashmir, human rights violations are happening there on a day-to-day basis,” Surjewala said.

He wanted the Modi government to state whether it has taken up the issues of human rights violations in Balochistan and PoK with Pakistan during bilateral discussions.

“Rhetoric from Red Fort is fine, but the government should raise these issues with Pakistan bilaterally, as well as on various international forums,” Surjewala said.

Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi found Modi’s references to Balochistan and PoK “correct” and sounded “good for jingoism”. But, he also wanted the prime minister to address concerns of the people staying in Kashmir.

“Not addressing your own people living in Kashmir under uncertainty – highly incorrect,” Singhvi posted on Twitter. He also wanted Modi to explain the “flip-flop” in Pakistan policy.