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”. “South Asia continues to be deeply affected by this malady, as witnessed most recently in cowardly terrorist attacks in Pathankot, Dhaka, Kabul and other places”, Singh said after listening to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan. But then he left in his auto. “I didn’t go there for lunch”, he said amid appreciation from the treasury benches.
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Mr Singh told Rajya Sabha that the Indian media accompanying him was not allowed in during his speech.
“As far as blacking out of speech concerned, not aware of protocol norms followed during previous events, will have to gather info from MEA”, he said about the blackout. “I will need to ask the foreign ministry about the protocol of past occasions”, he said. “I don’t know what the practice is on coverage”, he said (see box for MEA’s statement).
“We believe that Pakistan has taken and is taking steps to counter terrorist violence and certainly focusing on those groups that threaten Pakistani or Pakistan’s stability”, he said.
Rajnath also spoke about why he skipped a lunch hosted by the Pakistan government.
It was against the rules and regulations of the conference if Nisar had mentioned India by name, but he just replied to a statement which was somehow linked to Pakistan and giving a statement in that specific matter was mandatory on the state level, Nisar said.
Rajnath Singh arrived here on Wednesday evening, amid anti-India protests organised by terror groups, including the United Jehad Council – a militant amalgam of groups fighting in Kashmir but based in Pakistan.
Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday obliquely asked Pakistan not to glorify terrorists while Islamabad, in a clear reference to Jammu and Kashmir, denounced the use of “excessive force” against civilians. Even if some militant groups do not pose a threat to Pakistan, they may threaten its neighbours, he said. Media outlets were barred from covering it, after he slammed Pakistan’s stance on terrorism in a variety of ways.
“It is true that Pakistan Interior Minister invited everyone for lunch”.
The Minister said that according to the original plan, he had to reach the hotel by road from Rawalpindi airbase, but it changed later and security officers chose to use helicopter.
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During the Saarc meeting, a tense war of words ensued between Rajnath and Nisar after the Indian Home Minister indirectly implied that Pakistan sponsors terrorism.
