Nirmala Sitharaman sees Congress ploy in Imran Khan’s endorsement for PM Modi

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's statement endorsing another term for Narendra Modi as India’s PM could be a ploy by the Congress party to oust him from power. "Such statements come around elections in India and also there have been eminent Congress leaders who've gone there to seek help 'Modi hatane ke liye madad karo business'. I wonder if this is also part of scheme of things which have been put forth by the Congress' side," Sitharaman was quoted as saying by ANI news agency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pitch where he accused the Opposition Congress of being a sympathiser of Pakistan, portraying the country as India’s enemy, has backfired when his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan said that he wanted the BJP to win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as there would be better chances to resolve the Kashmir issue under the right-wing party's government.

The Opposition parties led by the Congress alleged a secret understanding between Modi and his Pakistani counterpart after the latter’s open endorsement for his victory in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

"Pak has officially allied with Modi! ‘A vote for Modi is a vote for Pakistan’, says Pak PM Imran Khan. Modiji, first affection with Nawaz Sharif and now Imran Khan has become your loving friend. He has called your bluff," the Congress had said.

Following Imran Khan’s statement, Opposition leaders also started questioning the timing of Pulwama terror attack and Balakot strike, with some alleging that the attack was planned by PM Modi to swing the voters in his favour. Several pre-poll surveys conducted after the Pulwama attack and Balakot strike showed BJP gained from these incidents. The saffron party, that fought the 2014 elections on the issue of development, planned its 2019 Lok Sabha elections campaign around nationalism.