Two days after all political parties came together to pass the landmark legislation on GST in Rajya Sabha, the Upper House once again united on Friday to condemn the shabby treatment meted out by Islamabad to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to Pakistan for SAARC summit. But then he said he had no complaints or grudge as “I had not gone there to have lunch”. But then he left in his vehicle. “We’ve been very clear with the highest levels of the Government of Pakistan that they must target all militant groups, and that includes those that target Pakistan’s neighbors, and they must also close all safe havens”, Mr Toner said. “It is true that Pakistani interior minister invited everyone for lunch”.
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On whether there was no telecast of his speech, Singh said he was not aware of the convention and would need to ask the Ministry of External Affairs regarding it.
IN A strong message, the U.S. has asked Pakistan to act against terror groups targeting its neighbours and not just the ones that pose a threat to it, virtually endorsing the stand taken by India at the SAARC ministerial meet.
He said the Indian media accompanying him was not allowed to cover the conference and was kept away from the venue.
“Forces fired to disperse large crowds at two places in Budgam district in which two persons died”, said a senior police officer, whose name was not mentioned in the report. “All our PMs have done their best to improve relations with our neighbours, but this neighbour never learns”, Singh told the parliament while praising the efforts of all Indian prime ministers.
Addressing the SAARC meeting, Singh called for tough action against terrorism and countries supporting the menace, stressing that terrorists should not be glorified as “martyrs”.
He described Pakistan as the “biggest violator of human rights” – a response to his Pakistani counterpart’s allegations of rights violations in Kashmir.
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According to local media reports, opposition parties rallied behind the government and condemned Pakistan for “the way the home minister was treated” and what they called a “blackout” of his speech. “Reporters from India [Doordarshan, PTI and ANI] were not allowed at the Summit”. I did not register any protest there. “I will need to ask the foreign ministry about protocol of past occasions”.
