Accusing the BJP of hypocrisy, Congress on Friday questioned the Modi government’s decision to explore dialogue with Pakistan when circumstances have not changed adequately to warrant such a move. 

“Is there any improvement in circumstances that they are going for bilateral discussion? It is a clear case of hypocrisy on the part of the BJP,” former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said at the AICC briefing here.

Khurshid was commenting on Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh’s scheduled visit to Pakistan later this month to explore possibilities of resuming peace talks. 

“We are not saying that India and Pakistan should not be holding diplomatic level talks, but BJP used to even question us as to why we served biryani to visiting Pakistan officials,” Khurshid said referring to the BJP’s campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

He said the BJP should explain the rationale behind sending Singh to Pakistan, asking: “can one handshake compensate damages that have been done?”

Bilateral talks between India and Pakistan have been suspended since 2012 following escalation of violence in the Line of Control and beheading of an Indian soldier by Pakistani troops. 

“During our time (in the government) Pakistan had promised certain things but did not keep the promise which is why we suspended the talks,” he said.