FM backs anti-Modi remarks
ISLAMABAD: One of Pakistan’s most high-profile politicians defended comments about Indian leader Narendra Modi that sparked an uproar between the long-feuding neighbours, as rhetoric heats up ahead of national elections coming soon in both countries.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari defended comments made last week at the United Nations Security Council in which he referred to Mr Modi as the “butcher of Gujarat” and said the Indian leader’s political party draws inspiration from Adolf Hitler. He was responding to comments from India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, calling Pakistan the epicentre of terrorism.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs had called Mr Zardari’s remarks “uncivilised,” saying in a statement they were “a new low, even for Pakistan.” Even Mr Modi’s opponents in India also expressed solidarity in opposing Mr Zardari.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television yesterday, Mr Zardari said he was “referring to the historical fact, and they believe that repeating history is a personal insult.” He also decried a member of Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party who reportedly said he would give a 20 million rupee (8.4 million baht) reward to anyone who would behead him.
“If I’m quoting somebody else, and speaking about a historical fact that Mr Modi would prefer we forget about, the response shouldn’t be a threat of assassination,” Mr Zardari said, adding that the death threat “crossed a line.”
Relations between Hindu-dominant India and Muslim-majority Pakistan have been hostile since both gained independence from British rule in 1947.
Shortly after Mr Modi became Gujarat’s chief minister in 2002, over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in rioting. Rights groups blamed Mr Modi for not doing enough.