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Pak’s praise of Rahul matter of grave concern: Rajnath

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NEW DELHI: Ex-Pakistani minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain’s “praise” of Rahul Gandhi is a matter of “grave concern” and Congress must explain the “deep love” for its leader from a country that always attempted to destabilis­e India, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

In an interview on Saturday, Singh also questioned Congress’ “relationsh­ip” with Pakistan

“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.

Singh said the neighbouri­ng country was attempting to influence the Indian elections. Asked if it is succeeding, Singh said Pakistan does not have the “aukaat (capability)” to influence.

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

‘Won’t ever change Preamble’

The BJP government will never change the Constituti­on or end reservatio­n, Singh blasted the Congress for spreading “canard” that the BJP will change the Constituti­on if it returns to power and especially asserted that there was no question of changing the Preamble of the Constituti­on.

‘PoK people will demand merger’

India will never give up its claim on Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK)

Defence Minister

but it won’t have to capture it with force because its people, on their own, would want to be part of India after seeing the developmen­t in Kashmir, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said.

“I think India will not have to do anything. The way the ground situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir, the way the region is witnessing economic progress and the way peace has returned there, I think demands will emerge from people of PoK that they should merge with India,” he said.

‘Talks with China going on well’

The praise came from someone who during his ministersh­ip had acknowledg­ed that the Pakistan government had a hand in terror attacks in India —Rajnath Singh,

As the military standoff between India and China drags on along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, Singh said the talks between the two sides are going on well and indicated hope for a resolution of the lingering row. He also said that India has been developing infrastruc­ture along the frontier with China at a rapid speed, asserting that the country’s borders will remain safe. “The talks are going on well,” he said declining to elaborate further considerin­g the sensitive nature of the dialogue process.

‘Navy doing miracle on high seas’

The Indian Navy has performed a “miracle”, Singh has said, praising for the force’s numerous operations in foreign waters where it assisted several merchant ships commandeer­ed or threatened by pirates. Exuding confidence of the National Democratic Alliance retaining power for a third straight term, he said the new government’s focus would be to make India totally self-reliant in the defence sector.

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