In a recent statement, Karnataka Congress councillor BK Hariprasad stirred a controversy by asserting that while Pakistan may be deemed an "enemy country" by the BJP, the Congress perceives it solely as a neighboring nation. His remarks came in response to BJP's allegations of pro-Pakistan slogans being raised following Congress's Rajya Sabha victory in the state.
During a session in the Legislative Council, Hariprasad emphasized, "They speak about our relationship with an enemy country. According to them, Pakistan is an enemy country. For us, Pakistan is not an enemy country; it's our neighboring country." He further cited instances, including LK Advani's visit to Jinnah's mausoleum in Lahore, to question BJP's characterization of Pakistan as an adversary.
Reacting to Hariprasad's comments, the Karnataka BJP criticized the Congress for its stance on Pakistan, accusing the party of harboring "anti-national sentiments." The BJP underscored the historical conflicts between India and Pakistan, emphasizing the need to recognize Pakistan as an "enemy nation."
A social media post by Karnataka BJP highlighted the divergence in perspectives, referencing Jawaharlal Nehru's relationship with Mohammad Ali Jinnah and condemning Congress's refusal to acknowledge Pakistan as an adversary. The post further lambasted individuals like Hariprasad for their purported anti-national sentiments.
Earlier, the BJP staged a protest in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, alleging that supporters of Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain, upon his election to the Rajya Sabha, had chanted pro-Pakistan slogans. However, the Congress refuted these claims, asserting that the chants were in celebration of Hussain's victory and not in support of Pakistan.
The incident underscores the deep-seated political divisions regarding India's relationship with Pakistan, with both parties vehemently defending their respective positions amidst accusations of anti-national sentiment.
