Sanjay Singh: ‘Couldn’t the Centre have sent delegations earlier? Why is no one standing with us? … total failure of our diplomatic machinery’

* Has the Opposition support for the government that was seen following Operation Sindoor dissipated?

We expressed support because they (the Centre) said we would start Operation Sindoor, won’t spare even a single person (involved in the Pahalgam terror attack), will finish the terrorists and their hideouts, and the four terrorists behind the Pahalgam killings will be eliminated. They said we would enter their home and hit them; we said, ‘Go ahead, do whatever is required for the safety and security of Bharat, we are standing with you.’

In the all-party meeting, the Defence Minister told us that our forces launched an attack on May 7 in which 9 terror facilities were destroyed and over a hundred terrorists were killed. We were also briefed about the attack from their (Pakistan’s) end and how our forces countered them. At a time when we were attacking terror launch pads and hitting them hard, we could have also taken action to take back PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), you had such a big opportunity, you could have severed Balochistan from them. But at this time, what are you doing? You are declaring a ceasefire, and that too through America. This means it is not you who is taking the decision about the ceasefire, (US President Donald) Trump is. This is against the sovereignty and respect for the country. This is why we raised questions, why we protested.

* The government has dismissed claims of a US-brokered ceasefire and said the Pakistan DGMO was the one who called asking for firing to stop. What else could the government have done?

The Prime Minister should step forward and clear the air about this. He (Trump) said we issued a threat regarding trade and got a ceasefire declared. What trade do they have with Pakistan? Whatever trade there is, it is between the US and India. On May 5, (industrialist Gautam) Adani’s team got in touch with Trump’s administration … then Trump raised the issue of trade on May 10. These things raise a lot of questions about which he (PM Modi) did not utter a single word.

* What are your exact questions?

These questions are only related to the ceasefire. The biggest question is regarding the ceasefire. How can America decide on your behalf? How can Trump do so?

Secondly, what he is saying about threats related to trade cleared the way for the ceasefire, what is the truth regarding this? US Secretary of State (Marco Rubio) is saying that J D Vance (US Vice President) spoke to the PMs of both countries, and he names everyone involved in this dialogue. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson also acknowledged this. At such a time, when your armed forces are engaged in combat, you are engaging with America in backdoor talks? Why are you doing so? For decades, our policy has been clear: no third-party intervention will be entertained when it comes to the issue of Kashmir. And here people are saying they have mediated, that we will discuss Kashmir too. What is Modi ji’s stance on this?

* So, is your demand an all-party meeting or a special session of Parliament?

Why doesn’t he (PM Modi) address a press conference and dismiss these statements? Trump’s statement to both nations came well before the PM’s address to the nation. He should have nipped this in the bud then. He should have cleared that trade was not discussed, that no threat regarding this was entertained.

* The government has set up seven delegations comprising leaders cutting across party lines to visit other countries and brief them about its position and the terror emanating from Pakistan. There are a couple of AAP MPs in the delegations.

Could they (the Centre) not have done this earlier? You have travelled across the world. Even your traditional ally Russia, which on six occasions in the United Nations utilised its power of veto for you in regards to the issue of Kashmir and which has always thrown its weight behind this conflict being bilateral in nature with no scope for third party intervention, why did it not stand with you this time? This is a total failure of our diplomatic machinery. Why is no one standing with us?

* Coming to domestic politics, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has raised questions about whether the INDIA bloc is still intact. What do you say to that?

Even we don’t know what the current state of the INDIA alliance is. But that being said, I feel what we are discussing in terms of the situation around India and Pakistan is a more important issue. Other things can be dealt with later.

* There was no alliance between the AAP and Congress in Haryana or Delhi. Then there are such questions being raised by a senior Congress leader. Shouldn’t the INDIA parties take a look at the state of the alliance?

Currently, our entire focus is on the expansion of our party, on the new and developing situation between India and Pakistan. So, I do not want to give any opinion on the INDIA alliance.