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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
We avenged Apr 22 in 22 minutes: Nadda
NEW DELHI: Slamming the Congress led United Progressive Alliance government for failing to give a befitting response to Pakistan for perpetuating multiple terror attacks in India, leader of the house in the Rajya Sabha and BJP president JP Nadda on Wednesday said what sets the current National Democratic Alliance government apart from its predecessor is the 'political will' that has created the space for the armed forces to take decisive action. JP Nadda compared the UPA decade to a 'dark night' and referred to the current regime as a 'moonlight night'. (HT PHOTO) He also compared the UPA decade to a 'dark night' and referred to the current regime as a 'moonlight night'. ' Woh hume goliyoon se bhunte rahe aur hum unko biryani khilane chale (They riddled us with bullets and we offered them biryani),' Nadda said speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the special discussion on Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam. Accusing the UPA of giving a 'lukewarm response' to the dozens of terror attacks between 2004 and 2014,Nadda credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'decisive leadership' for transforming India's response to terrorism. The government's decision to put the Indus water Treaty in abeyance, post Operation Sindoor was cited as an example of decisive action by Nadda. 'The role of the brave armed forces and the police force is undeniable and deserves deep respect and tribute from the nation,' Nadda said, but went on to add that it was also the political leadership that was crucial, because it is the political leadership that commands the armed forces. '...That is why there is a clear difference between a responsible, responsive, sensitive, and proactive government, one that acts as per the demands of the situation, and another type of government altogether an inactive government, one with a lukewarm attitude, and one that is non-reactive and non-responsive.' To understand this difference, he said the Pahalgam incident cannot be seen in isolation as doing so would be an injustice, both to the nation and to the larger narrative. Tracing the history of terror attacks on Indian soil during the UPA decade, Nadda said starting with the blasts in 2005 in the Shramjeevi Express which led to 14 casualties to the 26/11 attack in Mumbai that left 200 dead and shook the nation, the UPA chose engagement over action against Pakistan. 'An India-Pakistan joint commission was set up (in 2005)…the then EAM Natwar Singh met his counterpart Khurshid Kasuri to establish working groups on education, agriculture, IT, environment and tourism…' Nadda said, slamming the UPA for the response to Pakistan-sponsored attacks by terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, and Indian Mujahideen. 'After the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, a dossier was sent and senior most officials are on record to have taken the decision to not hitback…It is the same Army since then but the only difference is the political will to strike back,' he said. Nadda said multiple terror attacks were followed by the Indian government pursuing engagements such as opening trade routes, increasing flights, and continuing dialogue with Pakistan. The Modi government on the other hand, he said, has been steadfast that 'terror and talks cannot go together'. 'They only appeased…there was no pressure on Pakistan,' Nadda said while praising PM Modi for his zero tolerance to terrorim doctrine. He said no PM since 1947 had responded like PM Modi to attacks on Indian soil. 'In 22 minutes we avenged April 22…I can say this on record, never in history has Pakistan been given a response like the one delivered by PM Narendra Modi through Operation Sindoor,' Nadda said. He referred to the 2016 surgical strike on terror camps in Pakistan, carried out in response to the Uri attack and the 2019 Balakot strike in response to the Pulwama attack as examples of PM Modi walking the talk on tackling terror. While the opposition has cornered the government for failing to stem terrorism, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in the erstwhile state, Nadda said acts of terror in the country have declined and stone pelting incidents have been reduced to zero from over 2000 between 2010-2014. 'Except J&K, no incidents of terrorism have taken place in the country till date…there has been a reduction of 80% in terror incidents in the past decade,' he said. Quoting data, he said, from 7,217 terror incidents in 2004-2014, the number has declined to 2,150 (2015-2025). 'Civilian deaths under UPA were 1,060 as compared to 542 (under the Modi government) - a reduction of 49%...there has been an increase of 123% in killing of terrorists,' he said. Responding to the Opposition's charge that the government failed to elicit support from other countries for Operation Sindoor and lost the narrative war with Pakistan, Nadda referred to the international community not condemning Pakistan for the attacks in India. He said in 2009 at the SCO in Russia and the BRICS summit there was no mention of big attacks and the 2009 Sharm El-Sheikh statement where 'terror in India was equated with Balochistan'.
Business Recorder
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Bilawal rejects India's unsubstantiated, politically- motivated allegations
LONDON: The head of Pakistan's parliamentary delegation, visiting United Kingdom, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has again categorically rejected the baseless Indian allegations levelled against Pakistan without credible investigation or verifiable evidence in backdrop of Pahalgam incident. He was briefing the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pakistan during a meeting hosted by the Pakistan Chair and Member of British parliament Yasmin Qureshi at Westminster Palace in London. The meeting was also attended by the cross-party British parliamentarians. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari highlighted that Indian attack on civilian population, violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and unilateral holding in abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty - in blatant violation of the international law and modern rules-based system - could have dangerous consequence for the regional and international peace and security. The attention was drawn to what it described as India's 'unsubstantiated and politically motivated allegations' following the Pahalgam incident. Bhutto said India had 'levelled serious accusations against Pakistan without any credible investigation or verifiable evidence,' adding that Islamabad 'categorically rejected these baseless claims'. 'These actions by India are not just irresponsible, but pose serious risks to peace and stability in South Asia and beyond,' he said. The delegation is a part of Pakistan ongoing diplomatic outreach to the international community on the deteriorating region security situation due to Indian aggression against Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari briefed the parliamentarians of the repercussions of the Indian aggression and violations of the Pakistan's sovereignty after the Pahalgam incident, without justification on the basis of investigation or inquiry. In his remarks, Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordina-tion, Musadik Malik, apprised the parliamentarians of the environmental hazards of holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance by India, threats to food security and survival of 240 million population of Pakistan, primarily an agrarian economy. The delegation emphasized that Pakistan response to Indian aggression was calibrated, responsible and fully consistent with international law, including the right to self-defence under Article-51 of the United Nations Charter. The delegation underscored Pakistan commitment to restraint, revival of the Indus water Treaty and initiation of a composite dialogue between the two countries on all outstanding issues, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The APPG meeting chair Ms Qureshi reaffirmed the importance of sustained parliamentary dialogue on human rights and regional peace, and lauded the Pakistani delegation's efforts to keep UK lawmakers informed on developments in South Asia. The briefing comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with Pakistan expressing concern over what it sees as India's attempts to unilaterally alter regional dynamics through aggressive military and diplomatic postures. The Pakistani delegation urged the international community, particularly the UK, to play a proactive role in de-escalating tensions and ensuring adherence to international norms.
