Lucknow, Aug. 15 : Flaying Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit's statement that his nation "dedicates this independence day to the independence of Kashmir", the Congress Party on Monday said had Prime Minister Narendra Modi acted sensibly, Pakistan would have not dared to speak such things on Indian soil.
"It is definitely a serious matter for our government as far as giving this opportunity to Pakistan is concerned.
Our government, especially the Prime Minister, has made a mistake otherwise Islamabad cannot dare to talk about freedom by linking Kashmir with Pakistan," said Congress spokesperson Dwijendra Tripathi.
"But the question arises where the government fell short? They had made tall promises before coming to power, if ten Pakistani soldier would have been decapitated, I don't think Pakistan would have dared to speak such things on our soil," Tripathi told ANI.
"As far as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is concerned, he said, "it is definitely a part of India and we will get PoK back." Celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day at its embassy on Sunday in the national capital, Basit said, "As far as the relation of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, we dedicate this year's Independence Day to Kashmir's freedom.
We are confident that the sacrifices made by the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be successful." He asserted Pakistan has always given moral support to Jammu and Kashmir's freedom struggle and would continue to do so.
"Struggle for independence will continue till Kashmir gets freedom; sacrifice of the people of Kashmir will not go in vain," he added.
Reprimanding Pakistan for ceasefire violation, the Congress leader said, "This is not for the first time, Pakistan has violated ceasefire time and again before this.
If at all the Government of India is serious about it, as the Prime Minister has himself said, it is time to give a befitting reply to Pakistan.
Until they (Islamabad) understand that India could take firm steps, they will not fall in line." Terming statement by Basit as reflection of Pakistan's "nervousness", Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar said, "They are nervous.
Pakistan is unable to understand what she needs to do. The prevailing situation in Balochistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir other provinces is such that Pakistan is afraid that she does not break into ten pieces." "In order to save Pakistan from disintegration, their leadership are making such statements, and Basit's statement should be seen in the same light," the SP spokesperson told ANI.
Calling upon the government to give a befitting reply to Pakistan for violating the ceasefire, the SP leader said, "Pakistan has been doing such things since its independence, but what is laughable that before the elections Narendra Modiji had promised to bring ten heads of Pakistani soldiers, and he reiterated it after becoming the Prime Minister as well; when he will get those heads, I fail to understand." "The Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister should stop making statement as the 2014 election was over, and he has become the Prime Minister.
He should now fulfil the promises he had made before the elections and bring ten heads of the Pakistani soldiers, only then we will believe he walks the talk and his chest is of 56 inches," he added.
Lambasting Basit, the Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Harishchandra Srivastava, however, said, "Basit must know that only unfurling Tricolour has been left in PoK as we have come to know from the media that the people of PoK have started rebelling against the Pakistani establishment." Reacting over the ceasefire violation by Pakistan, Srivastava told ANI, "Pakistan has been doing it since long.
Although India has been putting efforts to improve its relations with neighbouring countries, Pakistan always tries to sabotage it.
But whenever Pakistan has done so, India has given a befitting reply." Two civilians were injured in the firing and mortar shelling by Pakistan forces on Indian posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
One of the civilians, identified as Qasim Jaan, 49, of Kasba village suffered splinter injury in her left leg and was administered immediate first aid by the Indian Army and later evacuated to the local district hospital in Pooch for further treatment.
According to Defence sources the forces from across the LoC resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling on Indian posts and some civilian areas in Shahpur sector around 3 a.m, however, Indian security forces retaliated the firing effectively and intermittent exchange of fire lasted up till Sunday afternoon.
The ceasefire violation took place after a lull of over four months. Last year, 16 civilians were killed and 71 others injured in 405 incidents of cross-border firing by Pakistan.
While 253 incidents of ceasefire violations took place along the International Border (IB), 152 incidents were reported along the LoC.
Source: ANI
