Congress’ silence about Imran Khan’s loose comments speaks volumes of their priorities and character

Indo-Pak relations continue to be strained courtesy Pakistan’s callous attitude and its distasteful actions. Pakistan’s newly appointed minister had been trying to showcase himself as a man of peace and the two countries were scheduled to hold foreign minister level talks at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting this year. However, it was not long before Pakistan showed its real face and resorted to anti-India propaganda. Postal stamps were released in Pakistan commemorating Kashmiri terrorists as freedom fighters and a BSF trooper was tortured to death by Pakistan’s forces. The ministry of external affairs correctly retaliated by cancelling the talks and sending across a loud and clear message.

Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was taken by surprise at this and indulged in loose talking against India and prime minister Narendra Modi. The cricketer turned politician tweeted that he was disappointed at the arrogant and negative response given by India to his call for resumption of peace dialogue. Yes, he had the audacity to blame India for Pakistan’s follies! He further said, “all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture,” in a direct barb at prime minister Modi and calling him a small man for the office that he is holding. Frustration is writ large in Pakistan and Imran Khan’s mind for prime minister Modi is a statesman who has shown Pakistan its real face and place in the community of nations. Maybe, Imran Khan forgot that India’s electorate has elected prime minister Modi to power and he has not been installed to the top office by nation’s military unlike some other leaders. Prime minister Modi, is by no means, a man of small stature.

Pakistan and its leaders are known to make such petty comments but what is disheartening is the fact that there was stunning silence among India’s opposition parties including the Congress. In fact, Rahul Gandhi and his minions were busy alleging a scam out of the Rafale deal. There was no word even by the former prime minister Manmohan Singh rebutting Imran Khan. Congress seems not at all bothered about what Imran Khan said. This in sharp contrast to what prime minister did after Nawaz Sharif had referred to the previous prime minister Manmohan Singh as dehati aurat. Modi who was then in the midst of an aggressive 2014 election campaign and had been sparring no one within the Congress forgot all political differences. He took the side of the then prime minister Manmohan Singh and said, “How dare you (Sharif) address my nation’s Prime Minister as a village woman? There cannot be a bigger insult of the Indian Prime Minister. We can fight with him on policies but this we will not tolerate. This nation of 1.2 billion will not tolerate its Prime Minister’s insult.” Now, compare this with the pin drop silence coming from the Congress when Imran Khan made objectionable comments about India and prime minister Modi. It is shameful that the Congress even after being the oldest party of India is acting in the most reprehensible and absurd manner.

This is what separates the BJP and the Congress. While the Congress cannot see above petty political rivalries whereas BJP and prime minister Modi work for the welfare and well being of the nation. For Congress, political power is the ultimate end but for the BJP it is only a means to the end which is national interest. Prime minister Modi had set a very good precedent by giving a befitting answer to Sharif but it is unfortunate that Congress has not taken a cue from the statesman.