Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (May 27) said there needed to be a “thorough investigation” into the support that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have received from Pakistani leaders in the ongoing Indian Lok Sabha elections.
“It is a very serious issue,” Modi told the news agency. Ian “In my position, I don’t think I should be commenting on topics like this, but I understand your concerns,” he said in an interview.
“I don’t know why those who are hostile towards us are showing favouritism towards certain people. Why is there support for a few individuals from over there (Pakistan)? This is an issue that requires thorough investigation,” he added.
Former Pakistani minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain had responded to Kejriwal last week when he posted a picture on X (formerly Twitter) of him with his family after voting.
“May peace and harmony defeat the forces of hatred and extremism,” Hussain said.
In response, Kejriwal rebuffed him and asked him to take care of his country, which is “currently in a very bad state”.
“Chaudhary Sahib, I and my people are more than capable of dealing with the issues. There is no need for your tweets. The situation in Pakistan is very bad right now. You should take care of your country,” Kejriwal posted.
Hussain said, “Mr CM! Yes, election campaign is your own problem but I hope you understand that every person of conscience should be worried as extremism whether in Pakistan or India is a cross border phenomenon and is dangerous for everyone in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. The situation in Pakistan is far from ideal but individuals wherever they are must strive for a better society…(sic).”
He also commented on the release of Kejriwal, who was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in the Delhi GST policy case. “PM Modi has lost the battle yet again. Kejriwal has been released…Good news for moderate India,” he posted.
Earlier, Hussain had commented on Rahul’s video and wrote, “Rahul, you’re on fire.”
On May 2, PM Modi responded to Hussain’s tweet about Rahul, saying Pakistan’s “dying” leaders were “crying and praying”.
“Coincidentally, Congress is weakening in India. What is strange is that Congress is weakening here and Pakistan is crying over there. Now Pakistani leaders are praying for Congress. Pakistan is desperate to make its prince its prime minister and we already know that Congress is a fan of Pakistan. This alliance between Pakistan and Congress has now been fully exposed,” PM Modi said at a rally in Anand, Gujarat.
“The weak Congress government was providing information to terrorists. But Modi’s strong government is killing terrorists on the ground,” he added.
Several BJP leaders, including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, have accused the Indian National Congress of having “fans” in Pakistan over Hussain’s social media posts against Rahul.
“There are many huge fans of Rahul Gandhi in Pakistan! Even senior political leaders like former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Hussain Chaudhry are fans of Rahul Gandhi!” Rijiju said.