Srinagar: National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah said Narendra Modi will have to answer for Pakistani premier Imran Khan’s ‘endorsement’ for his second term as Prime Minister.
Khan told a small group of foreign journalists in an interview that he believes there may be a better chance of peace talks with India and settle the Kashmir issue if the BJP wins the general elections.
Opposition parties latched onto the remarks to attack Modi. “He (Modi) will have to answer that because it was Modi only who, till now, was stating that Pakistan and militants want the BJP to lose, but it has become clear today that it is Pakistan which wants Modi to win again,” Abdullah told reporters here.
Earlier, in a tweet, Abdullah – a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir – said Khan had ‘endorsed’ Modi for a second term. “So much for Modi Sahib telling the country only Pakistan & its sympathisers want BJP to lose. Imran Khan has just endorsed him for a 2nd term,” Abdullah said.
“Just imagine what all the ‘Chowkidar’ handles would be doing to @RahulGandhi & the Congress right now if Imran Khan had endorsed RG as PM in these elections? Who is the ‘tukde tukde’ gang now?” the NC vice-president said in another tweet.
It must be added here that since the campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls had begun, Modi had led a tirade against the opposition parties at times even stating that they were ‘unhappy and sad’ for the Indian strikes at Balakot. However, Khan’s ‘endorsement’ gave a new lease of life to opposition parties, Wednesday.
“Pakistan has officially allied with Modi. A vote for Modi is a vote for Pakistan,” tweeted Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. In another development AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said, “Modi ji should tell the country how deep his relations are with Pakistan. All Indians should know that if Modi wins, crackers will be burst in Pakistan.”
PTI