Why grand welcome to Salman, asks Congress

The Congress questioned the ‘hugplomacy’ of Narendra Modi with Mohammed bin Salman.  

Party to break self-imposed gag, ask government questions on ‘lapses’ that led to Pulwama attack

The Congress on Wednesday questioned the “grand welcome” accorded to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had praised Pakistan’s anti-terror effort just a day after the Pulwama terror attack.

The party asked if this was how Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the Pulwama martyrs.

Breaking the self-imposed gag on not attacking the Modi government over the terror attack, Congress communication chief Randeep Surjewala said time had now come for the government to answer questions.

The Congress has not yet finalised its next course of action, but party president Rahul Gandhi could be doing another press conference on the Pulwama attack.

 

Unlike the last one where he stood behind the government, Mr. Gandhi this time could ask why the government agencies failed to gather prior intelligence of such a major terror attack.

“National interests v/s Modiji’s ‘hugplomacy’ breaking protocol, grand welcome to those who pledged USD 20 billion to Pakistan and praised Pakistan’s ‘anti-terror’ efforts. Is it ur way of remembering martyrs of Pulwama?” Mr. Surjewala tweeted.

‘Show courage’

The Congress leader said Mr. Modi should show “courage” and ask Mr. Salman to undo his joint statement with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan that talked about “the need for avoiding politicisation of the U.N. listing regime.”

“Modiji, Is asking for a terrorist to be designated as such politicisation of UN listings? Would you show courage to ask Saudi Arabia to undo their ‘Joint Statement’ with Pak virtually rejecting India’s demand for designating Masood Azhar as a ‘global terrorist’?” he said.

A week after the tragedy, a section of the Opposition is ready to question the government, including on the standard operating procedure of moving troops in Jammu and Kashmir.