'Big victory in our fight against terrorism': PM Modi on Masood Azhar's listing as 'global terrorist'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the UN's decision to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as 'global terrorist' a "big success for India's efforts to root out terrorism". Addressing a public rally in Jaipur, PM Modi said that the consensus over declaring Masood Azhar global terrorist was a matter of satisfaction. 

"The world community stood by India in its fight against terrorism. For this, I thank the international community on behalf on 130 crore Indians," he said. 

"Today India is being heard across the globe. India'a views cannot be overseen anymore. And I challenge this is just the beginning, just wait and watch what happens next," PM Modi added.

RELATED

Meanwhile, the BJP credited PM Modi for the United Nations designating Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist", saying India is in safe hands under him.

"India stands vindicated. Masood Azhar is now a global terrorist. India is in safe hands. This marks a high point for the prime minister's foreign policy," senior BJP leader and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.

Calling it a "historic success" for India, the BJP used one of its Lok Sabha election slogans, 'Modi hai to mumkin hai' (It is possible if Modi is there), as it reacted to what is being seen as a major diplomatic win for the country. 

While BJP leaders rushed to give credit to the government, some opposition leaders, including Shashi Tharoor of the Congress, referred to reports that references to the Pulwama terror attack and terrorism in Kashmir were dropped by the UN.

"Well that kind of deflates our satisfaction. If Masood Azhar wasn't blacklisted at last because of Pulwama, then it logically has to be for all his previous sins. So is China admitting they erred in shielding him for 10 years and he was a terrorist pre-Pulwama too?" Tharoor said.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Is this true that the listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist was only possible because all references to Pulwama & terrorism in Kashmir were dropped?"

In a huge diplomatic win for India, the United Nations on Wednesday designated Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist him.