BJP lacks courage to hold talks with Pakistan to resolve issues: Mani Shankar
Srinagar: Former Indian minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has criticised the BJP-led Indian government for refusing to hold talks with Pakistan, ridiculing that it has the “courage” to launch surgical strikes but lacks willingness to resolve issues through dialogue.
Speaking at the 5th Halla Bolle Conclave in Srinagar, the Congress veteran said arguing over past issues is not foreign policy and suggested holding talks at Attari-Wagah border.
“We seem to have the courage to go into surgical strikes with them. Why don’t we have the courage to sit across the table with them? Why can’t we talk to them? Why can’t we make friends with them?” he asked, adding sensible countries talk to each other, stupid countries don’t.
He said dialogue should be kept going, saying whatever can be resolved should be acted upon and what cannot be resolved should be postponed till atmosphere changes.
“We need to talk to Srinagar, Srinagar needs to talk to Jammu, the street’s voice needs to be brought into the discussion between the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan,” he said.
Aiyar said Indian political environment can be fixed when entire non-Hindutva polity comes together under INDIA bloc, adding had the bloc been consolidated in 2024, it would have got majority and Kashmir would have got back its statehood and might even have received back Article 370 and 35A in slightly different shape.
He also termed Indian Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s actions amid row over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as disgraceful and illegal, saying it is the worst Election Commission.
