'Matter Of Grave Concern': Rajnath On Ex-Pak Minister's 'Praise' For Rahul, Question's Cong Over 'Deep Love' From Pakistan

Rajnath Singh sought an explanation from the Congress about the "deep love" for its leader from a country that always makes attempts to destabilise India.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Source : PTI

Union Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that former Pakistani minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain's "praise" of Rahul Gandhi is a matter of "grave concern," and he also sought an explanation from the Congress about the "deep love" for its leader from a country that always makes attempts to destabilise India.

In an interview to PTI on Saturday, Rajnath Singh also questioned the relationship of the grand old party with Pakistan. "There must be a reason behind this deep love (agadh prem) from a country that has been trying to destabilise India. It is a matter of grave concern, and India wants to know what is the reason behind this love," he said.

This comes after Chaudhry posted on May 1 on social media platform 'X' excerpts from a speech by Rahul Gandhi with the caption "Rahul on fire" that drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders. "If a former minister of a country that has been attempting to destabilise India praises (Rahul), then it is a matter of concern. The Congress owes an explanation about its relationship with Pakistan," the defence minister said.

The Union Minister said that the neighbouring country was attempting to influence the Indian elections. On being asked if Pakistan is succeeding to influence polls, Singh stated that Pakistan does not have the 'aukaat' (capability) to influence.

On Saturday, the former Pakistani minister again complimented the Congress leader for his party's promise of conducting a wealth redistribution survey, if it is voted to power. Singh said that redistributing wealth the way the grand old party wants to will destroy the economy and lead to uncontrollable inflation the way it happened in Venezuela, Singh said.

In his comments, Chaudhry had also compared Gandhi with his great-grandfather and India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, saying "both were socialists".

Asked why the BJP is finding fault with Gandhi for Chaudhry's unsolicited comments, Singh said the Pakistani politician "praised Rahul Gandhi by saying he is on fire. If such comments come from a foreign land, it is natural to have a reaction from a political party of the BJP's stature." Gandhi or the Congress have made no attempt to distance themselves from this unwanted praise, Singh said.

"The praise came from someone who during his ministership had acknowledged that the Pakistan government had a hand in terror attacks in India," the defence minister said.

Chaudhry is infamous for boasting about Pakistan's hand in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. Some three-and-half years ago, the former Pakistan Minister, who was then a minister, had made a sensational admission that the neighbouring country was responsible for the deadly Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.

"Humne Hindustan ko ghus ke maara (We hit India in their home). Our success in Pulwama is a success of this nation under the leadership of Imran Khan. You and us are all part of that success," Chaudhry had said in the National Assembly during a debate.

In February 2019, India's warplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan in response to the Pulwama terror attack. The senior BJP leader also talked about how Pakistan has been relentlessly using terrorism to destabilise India and specifically mentioned the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir.