Venkaiah Naidu questions China UN veto on Masood Azhar

Questioning China’s move to block an attempt in the UN to get JeM chief Masood Azhar designated as a terrorist, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has said Beijing should understand that “today it is India (which is targeted by terror), tomorrow it may be your turn”.

He also said Pakistan should give up its “old habit” of finding fault with India and stop “aiding and abetting” terrorism so that the two countries can have close ties.

“I do not know the reason why China blocked the proposal to ban Azhar. He is a notorious terrorist and should be banned,” the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister told reporters here.

“Today it is India, tomorrow it may be your (China) turn,” he added.

India had yesterday slammed China’s virtual veto to prevent the banning of Pathankot terror strike mastermind Azhar, saying it “does not reflect well on the determination that the international community needs to display to decisively defeat the menace of terrorism”.

The statement, however, did not mention China by name.

Asked about claims by Pakistan that there was no evidence with India about its abetment of terror, Naidu said there is enough evidence against the neighbouring country and “they should leave their old habit of finding fault with India”.

“If Pakistan puts a full stop on aiding, abetting, training and funding terrorists, India and Pakistan can come much closer, work together, since both the countries were once one and were separated for reasons,” he said.

“India wants to have good relationship with Pakistan,” Naidu said.

He claimed that for the first time in the history of United Nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue of terrorism and said it was unfortunate that UN was still unable to define terrorism.

The entire world and international community should come together and crush the danger and menace of terrorism, Naidu said.

“He (Fadnavis) did not say so. I know that. This is wrong information,” he said.

On the fatwa issued by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband against the ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ chant, Naidu said it was unfortunate that controversy was being created over nationalistic slogans.

“There is nothing to compel one to say Bharat Mata ki Jai.  If somebody says I will not say it, then that is objectionable,” he said.

It is a chant in praise of the motherland, Naidu said, “It does not specifically say if it is a Hindu mother, Christian mother or Muslim mother. India is our motherland and we should be proud of her.

“It is unfortunate that some people are trying to create unnecessary controversy over this.”

On recent protests at universities, Naidu said students should focus on education, excellence and personality development instead of taking to organising beef festivals, kiss festivals and Mahishasura festivals.

“Moreover, media is also giving more publicity (to these events) than they deserve,” he said.

“Some people are invoking the freedom of speech and right to dissent (over such events); dissent is okay, but disintegration is not acceptable and celebrating Afzal Guru, Yakub Memon... they are not seen as belonging to any community, but are regarded as anti-nationals and terrorists,” he said.

Told that major political parties in Tamil Nadu are seeking a law against honour killing, Naidu said it was purely a state subject.

“Still, if there is a consensus, a legislation can be brought. A Bill will not prevent the killing, but the political will can definitely, which was lacking in Tamil Nadu for the last few years,” he said.

He quipped further, “How can it be honour killing, a killing cannot be honourable.”