Pak media reports on Pathankot: Cong demands Shah's apology

New Delhi, Apr 5: Congress today demanded an apology from BJP chief Amit Shah for "having distributed certificates of sincerity to Pakistan" after a Pakistani media reported that the JIT, which came to India to probe the Pathankot terror attack, dubbed it as a "drama staged by India to malign Pakistan".

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the development, the party said in a tweet "did Modiji invite the Pakistani JIT so that they could insult the memory of our brave martyrs?"

Congress' communication department chief Randeep Surjewala said "reports in Pakistani media quoting leaked contents of Pakistani Joint Investigation Team report on Pathankot terror attack have once again exposed the doubled-faced policy of Pakistan in dealing with terrorism."

He said "it is now clear that neither has Modiji's rhetoric of 56 inches chest or showing red eyes to Pakistan and China paid off nor has his sudden visit to Pakistan and attending feasts and marriage parties with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had any effect."

The Congress leader said the Prime Minister should "rise over theatrics" and take diplomacy seriously, which the country expects as 125 crore people of India are feeling "betrayed" by Modi. Alleging that the development has caused "national embarrassment", senior party spokesperson Anand Sharma said Congress had "cautioned" the Prime Minister and the government about the JIT which also had a representative from ISI.

"A diplomatic crime has been committed. This has caused national embarrassment. BJP chief Amit Shah, who lacks any comprehension of the complex issue and gravitas of foreign policy, was distributing certificates of sincerity to Pakistan in the Pathankot matter. He should apologise to the people," Sharma said.

He claimed this happened as the BJP chief and the National Security Advisor were "busy operating the dirty tricks department and engaged in toppling the Congress governments more than paying attention to serious issue".

Surjewala said the "reposition of confidence" in the Pakistani JIT by Shah appears to have "backfired". "They came to our country with a pre-determined agenda and went away after levelling false allegations. Even China has come to their rescue in the UN by vetoing declaration of Maulana Masood Azhar as a terrorist," Surjewala said.

PTI