NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday downplayed former union minister Yashwant Sinha’s criticism of the foreign policy with regard to Pakistan and said India is a player on the global scale in terms of credibility, prestige and recognition.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said everyone is entitled to have a point of view.
“As far as an assessment of the foreign policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government would be considered I think one can clearly see that results are showing. Definitely, there is a big change between what India’s standing globally was two years ago and two years after Modi ji has assumed office,” Kohli told ANI.
“If we look in terms of credibility, in terms of prestige, in terms of recognition that India is a player on the global scale that is evident. If we look in terms of investment, India is that bright spot in an otherwise broadly depressed global economy. If we look in terms of India being looked as a country with which they would engage at a level much higher than earlier, even the missile technology control regime now has become clear that India is going to sign it,” he added.
The BJP leader further said the basic question now is when India will become a member of the NSG.
“So, there is a big change. With regard to the Pakistan policy, Prime Minister’s Modi’s initial from the invitation for the swearing-in ceremony right down further it’s clear that terrorism and talks don’t go together,” said Kohli.
“The principle is that we would like to resolve everything peacefully with Pakistan or with any other country. It has to be a bilateral discussion; there can’t be third party, third organisation, a third countries involvement in it. And certainly at the appropriate level by looking at all the inputs the policy is finally decided and what action needs to be taken are decided on that,” he added.
Sinha yesterday alleged that India's current policy with Pakistan was a complete failure and called on the Modi government to take action against the hostile neighbour or continue to face attacks like Pathankot and Pampore.
The former finance minister stated that the continuous assaults on the Indian defence, which has resulted in the deaths of several personnel, have given birth to a war-like situation between India and Pakistan.
"When these numbers of our people are being slaughtered, it's a clear open attack on India by Pakistan. It is with great distress that I am saying that our government's policy towards Pakistan has failed. There are still many leaders, who will call for cordiality with Pakistan saying they are 'bechara'. They are not 'bechara', they have been attacking us for years and now, they are targeting our defence personnel head on," Sinha said.
Calling on the Centre to muster courage and make Pakistan accountable for all they have done, Sinha said that there was absolutely no reason for India to be afraid.
"If we never question Pakistan and keep 'bowing down' to them then attacks like those in Pathankot and Pampore will continue. After incidents like Pathankot, we bang our chests and weep and then forget about it," he added.
Stating the time has come to teach Pakistan a lesson, Sinha said, "If they have nuclear weapons, so do we. For the government, I am under the category of brain dead as I do not even have the status to give an opinion. But I have continuously opposed this government's policy towards Pakistan."