Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Gulam Ali Khatana, who is part of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, has called out Pakistan for supporting terrorism, saying Pakistan begs on one side and spreads terrorism on the other. He stated that Members of the Parliament are here in the UK and other parts of the world to convey the message that India knows how to crush terrorism and does not need the mediation of anyone.
While interacting with the Indian diaspora at India House in London on Sunday, Khatana said, "Pakistan begs on one side and spreads terrorism on the other side. That time has gone. We are here in Europe, and our other friends are in different parts of the world to convey a message that we know how to crush terrorism, and we don't need the mediation of anyone. You people are our ambassadors. We will do the fight. Our army will fight there. We have to do a diplomatic fight, a social media fight. We have to fight and present our viewpoint. We remain silent and think that it is not my business. I have to get my kids educated. All the people who have come here have enthusiasm and love for this nation, that's why you are here for the last two hours."
What Did Khatana Say?
He further said that Pakistan was disturbed by the rise in democratic participation in Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370. He highlighted how India shares water from three rivers with Pakistan, yet receives infiltration, drugs, and terrorism in return.
"Pakistan says that we have stopped its water....We have given them 80% of our rivers' water and in return, Pakistan has given us infiltration, terrorism, drugs...What unnerved Pakistan was that people's participation increased in democracy, Kashmir became a peaceful region of the world, people started voting, there was a boom in tourism, infrastructure, and women got their rights after Article 370. Women were not given the right to inherit property...Not only this, Pakistan wants to end democracy there, the army wants to keep hegemony and that's why they want to create disturbance here. In the last 30 years, more than 4,000 people were killed, and how many children became orphans, many people left, especially Kashmiri Pandits. They were part of our historic heritage," he said.
Former Union Minister MJ Akbar said that the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and other places was a "terror of fascism and ethnic cleansing." He recalled how Pakistan was born in violence and not through a political movement.
While addressing the Indian community in the UK, he said, "This is not an ordinary form of terror that we have witnessed in Pahalgam and so many other places. This is the terror of fascism. This is the terror of ethnic cleansing. You are in Europe. If Europe doesn't remember fascism, which continent is going to remember fascism? You have generations here who remember the era of Hitler. This is the return of that era and we are witnessing it with our own eyes, but unless we understand it ourselves and explain it to others, we will have failed those who gave their lives in. We have all mentioned Pakistan's commitment literally to terrorism, but what is this ideology and where does it begin? I will be brief because my colleagues have already said what there is to say and with great energy. But briefly, I will tell you that Pakistan was born in violence. It was not born through a popular movement. It was born after the great Calcutta killing of 1946 and it died in 1971 after the great Dhaka killing and despite its death, it has not withdrawn from its commitment and its policy of violence because for the ruling class and for its elite, it has become genetic."
Highlighting that there were many misconceptions about Mahatma Gandhi, MJ Akbar said, "About Gandhi Ji, there are many misconceptions. Yes, he was the greatest apostle of nonviolence in the last 2000 years. But he was alive on 22nd October (1947) when the history of modern terrorism began with Pakistan sending 5 thousand terrorists across the border to cease Kashmir. Gandhi Ji was very much around with us at that time. Exactly seven days later, on 29th October, he met Mountbatten and Mountbatten was astonished. He says - this man of nonviolence, today, he's sounding like Churchill."
"Exactly seven days later, on 29th October, he met Mountbatten and Mountbatten was astonished. He says, this man of nonviolence, today he's sounding like Churchill. This is something the British will understand, and that's why I mentioned the story. That he's sounding like Churchill and because Gandhiji said that against terrorism, we don't want non-violence. The state must stand up. The Indian Army and every soldier, his direct quote is "every soldier will fight. No Indian soldier will retreat. They will give their lives in the fight against terrorism, but never retreat." Our message is very clear, that we shall never retreat and in that resolve and in the unity, India will find its future," he added.
BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari said that India has always been a responsible nation and it has never raised its ammunition against any other country. She said that India, if ever, has waged a war, it has been against the underdevelopment, poverty and unemployment in the country and to better its condition.
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