Congress lambastes PM Modi for breaking protocol to welcome Saudi's crown prince

India is among Saudi Arabia’s eight strategic partners with whom it wants to strengthen its ties in politics, security, trade and investment and culture. The other countries include China, Japan and South Korea in Asia, the US, besides three from Europe.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) gestures while talking with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) during ceremonial reception at Presidential palace in New Delhi on February 20, 2019. - Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman predicted "good things" will come out of talks with Indian leaders as he started a landmark visit to the world's largest democracy on February 20. (Photo by Prakash SINGH / AFP)

New Delhi: The Congress chided Prime Minister Narendra Modi for breaking protocol to personally welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to India who “pledged $20 billion to Pakistan.” Prince Mohammed, who came to India a day after his visit to Pakistan, was received Modi with a warm hug. The Crown Prince had flown back to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan before coming to India. He visited Pakistan days after a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber attacked a CRPF convoy on February 14, killing 40 soldiers. "Breaking protocol, grand welcome to those who pledged $20 billion to Pakistan and praised Pakistan's 'anti-terror' efforts. Is it your way of remembering [the] martyrs of Pulwama?" Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted on Wednesday. India also maintained a studied silence on the Saudi-Pakistan joint statement that has Saudi Arabia lauding Pakistan’s “achievements and sacrifices” in the war against terrorism, and a call for avoiding the politicisation of the UN listing regime. Randeep Surjewala also tweeted a joint statement by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and said the latter has "virtually" rejected India's appeal that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, be designated a global terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the United Nations.

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’? 2/2 pic.twitter.com/9hQBoOkLhu

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 20, 2019

National Interests V/S Modiji’s 'hugplomacy' Breaking protocol, Grand welcome to those who pledged $20 Billion to Pak & praised Pak’s ‘anti-terror’ efforts. Is it ur way of remembering martyrs of Pulwama? 1/2 pic.twitter.com/81LIwYuo1b

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 20, 2019

Surjewala asked Prime Minister Modi if he would "show courage" to ask Saudi Arabia to withdraw the statement. India is among Saudi Arabia’s eight strategic partners with whom it wants to strengthen its ties in politics, security, trade and investment and culture. The other countries include China, Japan and South Korea in Asia, the US, besides three from Europe. India is likely to raise the issue of Indian prisoners lodged in jails in Saudi Arabia. In Pakistan, MBS announced the immediate release of 2,107 Pakistani prisoners in Saudi Arabia.