#CongressPakistanUnited top trend on Twitter

New Delhi, Feb 28: A day after Congress President Rahul Gandhi's statement after the joint meeting of the 21 Opposition parties, hashtag #CongressPakistanUnited was trending at number one on Twitter at the time of filing this report.

On Wednesday, the Congress and other 20 opposition parties' joint statement condemned the Pulwama terror attack, and lauded the courage of Indian Air Force pilots who destroyed a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp situated in Pakistan.

However, the statement, read out by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was looking at the political mileage over the situation.

"The meeting of 21 parties expressed their deep anguish over the blatant politicization of the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces by leaders of the ruling party," said Rahul.

He added: "National security must transcend narrow political considerations. The leaders observed that the Prime Minister has, regrettably, not convened an-all party meeting as per the established practice in our democracy."

However, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj had called an all-party meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the security situation after Indian Air Force (IAF) had carried out an attack in Pakistan's Balakote against the terror camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed, responsible for Pulwama terror attack in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed on February 14.

Pakistani media was quick to pick up this political development as it suited them.

Radio Pakistan ran a story titled "India: 21 Opposition parties express deep anguish over Modi's blatant politicization of prevailing security situation".

Pakistan's national radio channel also conveniently distorted the joint statement and said: "Speakers in the meeting said opposition should build pressure on the government to not escalate the situation any further."

As soon as Radio Pakistan tweeted the story, the Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi came in the firing line of Twitterers, and #CongressPakistanUnited started trending.

Journalist @madhavmishre retweeted Radio Pakistan's tweet and commented: "@RahulGandhi and the rest of opposition leaders... shame .. this is what happens when you can't stand untied in such grave times... much shame ... it is very depressing ..."

A surgeon @amitsurg tweeted: "Presence of Pakis in Cong SM team; Pakis retweeting cong SM Handles; Hafiz Saeed praising Congress; Paki media praising opposition; Under these circumstances, Rahul Gandhi asking for more information from govt is sounding more and more suspicious. #CongressPakistanUnited (sic)."

A psychologist @Seems3r said: "US, UK & France with India & Indian opposition parties with Pakistan. Sad but true!! #CongressPakistanUnited."

@yogashar99 tweeted photos of Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu garlanding Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and hugging Pakistan Army Chief during Khan's swearing-in ceremony, and said, "#CongressPakistanUnited Who on earth wants to hug Chiefs of Pakistan to spread terror into India. Shame on Congress."

There were many other who also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but mostly such tweets came from those accounts whose real identity is not revealed.