Border flareup: Rajnath asks Pakistan to mend its ways
ACTING TOUGH The Union home minister says Pakistan is testing India’s patience by repeatedly violating ceasefire along the border in Jammu and Kashmir; on Kasaganj violence, Rajnath says MHA has sought report from UP govt
CHANDIGARH : Training guns on Pakistan on Tuesday, Union home minister Rajnath Singh said the neighbouring country was testing India’s patience over ceasefire violations.
“We want cordial relationship with Pakistan, but they are testing our patience now. I want to remind them, it is not the same India...we have now turned into a powerful country. They must mend their ways,” the home minister told reporters at the BJP office in Sector 33 here.
Singh was in Chandigarh to inaugurate two projects at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.
Reacting to the statement of Azam Nasir Ul-islam — who has been nominated as the next Grand Mufti of J&K — that Indian Muslims are living in a pathetic condition and only option for them is to separate, Rajnath said: “We should rise above caste and religion. I believe India is a secular country and people from every caste, creed and religion are safe here.”
On the recent FIR lodged against the army in Kashmir, Singh said the situation in Kashmir has improved a lot in the past two years. On Kasganj violence, Rajnath said his ministry has sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government.
The minister, however, evaded reply on increasing incidents of rapes in Haryana. “Let’s talk something else,” he replied when asked to comment on the issue.
LASHES OUT AT RAHUL Earlier, speaking at the BJP youth conclave, Rajnath accused
the Congress president Rahul Gandhi of defaming country by misinterpreting facts.
“For the BJP, the country is all above but for the Congress, individuals are more important,” he said. “Since the formation
of the government at the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a powerful country. It’s prestige at the international level has got a boost,” he said.