Who stopped BJP from making PoK part of India in last 10 years: Sanjay Raut

In his weekly column Rokhthok, published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, Raut raised the same issue of the BJP ”tom-tomming” about bringing PoK within India’s fold.

Instead of taking up the PoK issue in Palghar or Vasai areas, Raut said, the BJP leaders should raise their voices in Srinagar. ”Isn’t that an ideal place to speak about PoK?” he asked.

Raut said PM Modi made a new declaration during campaigning. “He has said we will make Pakistan wear bangles. But when is the key question. PM Modi invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony. And it was Modi who suddenly landed in Pakistan to wish its prime minister a happy birthday and cut cake.”

Raut said Modi turned his focus on Pakistan after Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar handed him an ideal opportunity. ”BJP needs Pakistan as an election issue. And it is Congress leaders providing the BJP an election in the form of Pakistan. Since Mani Shankar Aiyar raised the issue of Pakistan, BJP has kept the issue alive during campaigning,” he said.

Raut was referring to the BJP’s attack on the Congress over a video of former Union minister and Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comments on Pakistan. In a video that went viral on social media, Aiyar was heard saying that India should accord due respect to Pakistan and hold talks with it. The Congress distanced itself from the comment and said the BJP was attempting to “deflect attention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s daily goof-ups.”

Raut said that BJP’s election campaign is incomplete without mentioning Muslims and Pakistan.

The Sena MP said Pakistan is dear to PM Modi and Amit Shah. ”Pakistan has no democracy. Likewise, Modi-Shah are trying to finish off the democracy in India. In Pakistan, the election commission and judiciary have become a farce. Political leaders are being put in jail. The picture is no different in India. In Modi’s India, Pakistan formula is being used,” he said.