BJP demonstrates against Pakistan foreign minister's remarks on PM Modi: Key points

NEW DELHI: The BJP is holding demonstrations across the country to protest Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto's objectionable remarks against Prime minister Narendra Modi.

In a statement on Friday, the party said its workers will burn the effigy of Pakistani foreign minister and strongly condemn his "shameful" statement during Saturday's protests in state capitals.

Bhutto made the remarks during a press conference at the United Nations in New York.

The kind of language Bilawal Bhutto has used is extremely reprehensible which does not reflect the true spirit of statesmanship and also crosses the limit of decency in public life, the party said.

India's foreign ministry also criticised Bhutto's remarks, calling them "uncivilised and a new low even for Pakistan."

Bilawal launched a personal attack on Modi and slammed the RSS after foreign minister S Jaishankar highlighted Pakistan's support to various terror groups and described the country as the "epicentre of terrorism".



This is all that happened since Bhutto's remarks at the UN:

• BJP activists led by former corporator Sanjay Waghule staged a protest and raised slogans outside Thane railway station, condemning remarks made by Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on PM Narendra Modi.
• BJP workers staged a protest in Mathura on Friday and burnt an effigy of the Pakistani minister on Saturday. State BJP general secretary Govind Narayan Shukla said party workers would hold a protest in capital Lucknow and in every district on Saturday.
• Party workers also demonstrated in Jammu, and held up placards reading 'Shame on Pakistan.'
• All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council chairman Naseeruddin Chisti on Saturday condemned Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto's remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the language he used downgraded the position of not only his portfolio but also of his entire nation. "Bilawal Bhutto has forgotten that terrorist Osama bin Laden did not die, but was killed in Pakistan by American forces right under the nose of the Pakistani government," Chisti added.
• The MEA said Bilawal's frustration would be better directed towards the masterminds of terrorist enterprises in his own country who have made terrorism a part of their state policy. "Pakistan needs to change its own mindset or remain a pariah," said spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
• "Pakistan is a country that glorifies Osama bin Laden as a martyr, and shelters terrorists like (Zaki-ur Rehman) Lakhvi, Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, Sajid Mir and Dawood Ibrahim. No other country can boast of having 126 UN-designated terrorists and 27 UN-designated terrorist entities," Bagchi said.
• Scores of BJP leaders and workers staged a protest near Pakistan High Commission here on Friday over Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto's remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The protesters also demanded an apology for Bhutto's 'insensible' remarks.
• The protesters held flags and placards some of which read: 'Pakistan aukaat mey aao aur Maafi mango' (Pakistan stay in your limits and apologise).