Pakistan MPs polite, made us comfortable: MP who led delegation to Islamabad

“In the Q & A session, some civil society members asked questions on Kashmir and Balochistan, but the Pakistan MP who was moderating the session said contentious issues must not be raised in the meeting,” Deo told The Indian Express on telephone.

Deo said the controversy on Ramya’s comments was unnecessary. “What she expressed was her personal opinion. It should have no bearing on India’s strategic engagement with Pakistan nor on the ability to communicate with each other.” He added, “While India has always maintained the high moral ground, we cannot wish away our neighbour and there is a need to start people-to-people contact.”

The MP said the definition of sedition from a legal perspective should not bring personal opinions into its ambit. About nationalism, he said, “Nationalism cannot be defined in one mould. People express nationalism in different ways and they should be allowed to do so of their own free will, without fear.”