New Delhi:
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who returned from Islamabad on Thursday evening after attending the seventh SAARC Home Ministers conference, on Friday briefed the Parliament on his visit.
Highlights of Rajnath Singh's speech in Rajya Sabha:
#I urged all SAARC nations to neither glorify terror nor patronise terrorists
#Ye padosi (Pakistan) hai ki maanta hi nhi: HM Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha
All our PMs have done their best to improve relations with our neighbours bt the problem is "yeh padosi hai ki maanta hi nahi hai"
#I did not register any protest there. About the 'blackout' I will need to ask MEA about protocol of past occasions
#Pak Interior Min invited everyone for lunch,but then left in his car.I also left then.I have no grudges as I wasn't there to have lunch
#I will not comment whether Pakistan was right or wrong in not allowing coverage ( of his speech at SAARC summit)
#It is true that Doordarshan, ANI & PTI reporters who had come from India were not allowed to enter. Rajya Sabha says 'Shame'
#I have no hesitation in saying every Indian PM regardless of whichever party has shown determination in fight against terror
#I appreciate how all members have spoken in one voice on the issue of terrorism
#I appreciate the unity of the House against terrorism, it reflects the country's determination to fight terrorism
#Terrorism should not be encouraged. Terrorists of a country should not be seen as a 'martyr' by other countries
#Gave suggestions during SAARC meet that ban on terror outfits by UN must be respected,there is no good or bad terrorism
#During SAARC interior HMs meet, I urged all members that terrorists should not be glorified nor should be patronised
#I said that there is a need to strongest action not just against the terrorists but also those who support terrorism
#Terror, trafficking, cybercrime were discussed at SAARC summit
#India took strong stand against terror at the SAARC summit
#All countries must help to eradicate terrorists
#Pakistan is biggest violator of human rights
Reactions to Rajnath's speech in Rajya Sabha:
#I have no knowledge of the protocal of the past occasions, will have to ask MEA on that
#I join other members in condemning manner in which protocol norms were not observed & support strong statement made by HM: Anand Sharma, Congress
#My question is how India is going to engage with Pakistan in coming days: D Raja, CPI
#We condemn the protests held all across Pakistan against our HM's visit: Majeed, NCP
#In wake of recent media reports on behaviour of Pak,would urge HM to speak to PM to reconsider strategy on Indo-Pak relations: Mayawati
#But there seems to be some discrepancy in what foreign ministry is saying about protocol issues regarding vist: Sharad Yadav
#I strongly condemn how Pak didn't maintain protocol and treated our HM, the entire nation stand united: Sharad Yadav
#We all saw the way Pakistan did not maintain protocol in the way they treated Home Minister, we are one in condemning it: Sharad Yadav
#Want to ask HM whether he spoke to Pak PM & told him his own backyard falling apart, Baloch going in one direction, Sindh in another: S Swamy
#If home minister did not receive respect & honour due to him in Pakistan during his visit as per protocol, we condemn it: Ghulam Nabi Azad
#They (Pak) are now even at official level as high as PM, daily talking about disintegration of India, Kashmir: Subramanian Swamy
Earlier on Thursday, Rajnath briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his visit to Pakistan. Official sources said Singh rushed to meet Modi straight from the airport to “debrief” him about the events during his visit to Pakistan.
They said Singh informed PM about the speech he made at the conference, his interactions on the sidelines with the leaders, and deliberations during the official sessions.
In Islamabad, Singh had delivered a stern speech asking Pakistan to stop encouraging terror groups and “glorification” of terrorists and also called for “strongest action” against nations supporting terrorism and their isolation.
Without mincing any words amid the strain in Indo-Pak relations, Singh said mere condemnation of terrorism and terrorists is not enough and that there are “no good terrorists or bad terrorists”.
Singh’s comments came against the backdrop of Sharif’s praise of Burhan Wani who was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8 and his description of Hizbul Mujahideen commander as a martyr, much to India’s ire.
(With inputs from Agencies)
