Did Kiren Rijiju Criticize Congress Over Global Outreach After Pahalgam?

New Delhi, Aug 3 (NationPress) Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday highlighted excerpts from an interview with Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar conducted by IANS, using it as a platform to criticize the grand old party for its 'irresponsible' stance regarding national security issues.

The recent Pahalgam terror attack, followed by Operation Sindoor and India's significant diplomatic outreach to over 33 nations, has put the government and the Opposition at odds. The government asserts that India's robust response to Pakistan marks a new normal, while the Opposition accuses the Centre of not only failing in security measures but also in garnering international support, claiming that no country has condemned Pakistan.

While sharing insights from the IANS interview, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs remarked, 'Inside as well as outside the Parliament', in reference to the Congress party’s reluctance to recognize the favorable results of India's diplomatic initiatives against Pakistan.

Aiyar, in his recent IANS interaction, argued that India has struggled to effectively present its case on a global scale, specifically regarding the evidence of Pakistan's involvement in the Pahalgam attacks, stating that no nation is willing to hold Pakistan accountable for the heinous acts in Jammu and Kashmir.

'We are chest-thumping, claiming a Pakistani hand behind the Pahalgam attack. Nobody is willing to buy our claims. We are not able to present any evidence.' Aiyar lamented, emphasizing the lack of global acceptance regarding India's assertions.

'In the UN Security Council meeting, the final statement condemned the terrorism, but they did not mention who was behind it -- Pakistan's name was not mentioned.' he further elaborated.

The government contends that the multi-party delegation, in light of Operation Sindoor, successfully showcased India's approach to combat terrorism on an international platform, which has garnered positive responses from the global community. A notable outcome was the banning of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), by the United States.

The TRF, a terrorist organization based in Pakistan, initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attacks on April 22 but later withdrew its statement, reportedly under pressure from the Pakistani authorities.

Aiyar, who previously served as a Union minister in Congress-led administrations, also pushed for dialogue with Pakistan, questioning the 'gaps' in the government’s approach toward engaging with neighboring nations.

'When India and Pakistan were engaged in a military conflict following Operation Sindoor, the Chinese Army was backing the Pakistani Air Force. If dialogue is possible with Beijing, then why not with Islamabad?' he questioned.