Has 'Pakistani National Congress' decided to switch base to Islamabad, asks BJP

New Delhi, Aug 24 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday alleged that the Indian National Congress was at the moment behaving more like 'Pakistani National Congress' and said the grand old party, which has now lost hope in national politics, owes an apology to the nation for lending support to the hostile Asian neighbour. Expressing his disappointment over the Congress considering Pakistan a 'heaven' at a time when the whole world is calling the nation a 'terror hub', BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao wondered whether the grand old party has now decided to switch its base to Karachi or Islamabad. "One has to really wonder as to what is the compulsion of the Congress Party to be seen to be standing with Pakistani military, to be seen with Pakistan's sponsored terrorist organisation, to be seen defending the ISI and Pakistan military," Narsimha Rao told ANI. "You have Digvijaya Singh calling Jammu and Kashmir particularly Kashmir as Indian administered or Indian occupied Kashmir. You have Salman Khurshid taking offence at the Prime Minister's Independence address saying we should not raise issues which are integral to Pakistan. You have Congress former Member of Parliament claiming that Pakistan is heaven not hell," he added. Categorically stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing his national duty and is performing to the appreciation of the people of the country, Narsimha Rao said, "He has to interact with various countries, including our neighbours. Neighbours first is the policy our government has pursued." "But for the Congress leaders, for Mani Shankar Aiyar, Digvijaya Singh, P. Chidamabaram, Salman Khurshid and now joining the queue is Ramya and A.K. Antony. For all them, if they really want to praise Pakistan, want to do politics in Pakistan, they are welcome to do so," he added. Narsimha Rao further said all political parties must maintain restrain and support the government in its efforts at a time when Pakistan is fighting a proxy war in Kashmir. The BJP leader's outburst came after Congress veteran and former defence minister A.K. Antony voiced that always blaming the Pakistani military and not taking proper action is not good, and thus, the government must start a political dialogue to find a political solution to the Kashmir crisis. "Kashmir needs a political solution. As a first step, the government must send an all-party delegation and then start a political dialogue to find a political solution. We can't delay it anymore. The government must start acting on war footing. At any cost we must win hearts of the people, especially the youth, of the Kashmir Valley," Antony told the media in Thiruvananthapuram. "I know there are problems. Pakistani military is creating more and more problems. They will continue to do so, nobody can stop that. But always blaming the Pakistani military and not taking proper action is not good," he added. The former defence minister appealed to everybody not to issue provocative statements in this regard. Actor-politician Ramya had after visiting Islamabad as part of a SAARC delegation of young lawmakers earlier said: "Pakistan is not hell. People there are just like us. They treated us very well." The 33-year-old Kannada film star and Congress member accused of 'sedition' over her comments praising Pakistan, however, later refused to tender an apology and said that she had done no wrong. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Srinagar today on a two-day visit to Kashmir during which he will review the situation in the valley. Singh, who may hold talks with a cross section of people, is likely to emphasise the various development projects and employment schemes undertaken for the youth in the Valley. The Home Minister earlier tweeted that he would interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders in Kashmir. "I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he tweeted. This is the Home Minister's second visit in a month to the valley, which has been witnessing unrest since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. The visit comes following Prime Minister Modi expressing deep concern and pain over the situation in Kashmir. (ANI)