Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for referring Balochistan and missing Jammu and Kashmir in his address on the occasion of nation’s 70th Independence Day, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said that he has created an unnecessary controversy and has given an opportunity to Pakistan to falsely claim now that India has an evil eye on Balochistan.
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Stating that Balochistan was out of question, Memon said, “The Prime Minister should have spoken about whole of Kashmir, including PoK. And so I want to thank the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK”, Modi said. “But by bringing in Balochistan, you are ruining our case”. It claims that the economic corridor “does not target any third part”, including India.
Mr Modi’s move is a clear signal that India will not fight shy of playing the Baloch card to counter Pakistan’s Kashmir card. There was an indirect reference to terrorism and how this was instigated and allowed to grow and he pleaded with the parents of these young-boys-gone-astray to take them by the hand again. Kashmir has witnessed violent protests since a July 8 encounter in which security forces eliminated a commander of Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Hizbul Mujahideen.
This was an obvious reference to Wani who has been hailed as a martyr by Pakistan, which was not directly named by him.
For years, India has endured Pakistan’s constant interference, now perhaps it is time that Islamabad knows it needs to set its own house in order before peeping into the neighbour’s yard.
In his speech Narendra Modi also referred to what he said were messages of support he’s received from people inside Pakistan, including the western province of Balochistan.
“The world is watching…” People of Balochistan, Gilgit, Baltistan and occupied Kashmir have thanked me a lot in the past few days. “I want to tell cowardly Indian soldiers that the day is not far when they will be held accountable for their crimes against humanity”. Indian children were traumatized. AICC spokesman Randeep Surjewala said that “whether it is Balochistan or POK or other parts of Pakistan, there are violations being committed by Pakistani agencies and armed forces”.
“What kind of life is this, inspired by terrorism? The world will understand this double standard and that is enough for me”.
As Modi spoke, gunmen attacked a police station in Kashmir’s summer capital, Srinagar, killing an officer and wounding 10 police and paramilitary troops.
“In the garb of curbing terrorist activities, India itself is committing state terrorism in held Kashmir by arresting, injuring and killing innocent people”, she said.
Modi met national party leaders on Friday to seek ways to end the worst unrest in Kashmir since 2010.
Modi’s comments were widely seen as a riposte to Pakistan’s adoption of a hardline stance on the Kashmir issue.
“Modi’s statement is meant as much for Beijing as for Islamabad”, journalist Prashant Jha wrote in an opinion piece for Indian newspaper Hindustan Times.
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly came out in support of “freedom” for Balochistan, leaders of the Baloch nationalist movement on Tuesday have sought the USA and Europe to hold Pakistan accountable for the crimes against humanity.
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Modi mentioned about the pan-India Goods and Services (GST) tax regime that he said would strengthen the economy.
