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Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor has hit back hard the BJP for the criticism of his tweet on late former Pakistan President President Pervez Musharraf.
Tharoor’s remarks came while hitting out at criticism from the BJP drawn at him after his tweet condoling the demise of the former Pakistan military ruler by calling him a “real force for peace”.
if Musharraf was anathema to all patriotic Indians, why did the BJP government negotiate a ceasefire with him in 2003 & sign the joint Vajpayee-Musharraf statement of 2004? Was he not seen as a credible peace partner then?” Tharoor said in his tweet.
Question to BJP leaders frothing at the mouth: if Musharraf was anathema to all patriotic Indians, why did the BJP Government negotiate a ceasefire with him in 2003 & sign the joint Vajpayee-Musharraf statement of 2004? Was he not seen as a credible peace partner then?
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 6, 2023
Earlier, Tharoor had said, “I was raised in an India where you are expected to speak kindly of people when they die.”
“I was raised in an India where you are expected to speak kindly of people when they die. Musharraf was an implacable enemy and was responsible for Kargil but he did work for peace w/India, in his own interest, 2002-7. He was no friend but he saw strategic benefit in peace, as did we,” Tharoor said.
I was raised in an India where you are expected to speak kindly of people when they die. Musharraf was an implacable enemy &was responsible for Kargil but he did work for peace w/India, in his own interest, 2002-7. He was no friend but he saw strategic benefit in peace,as did we.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 5, 2023
Later Speaking to ANI outside parliament , Tharoor said, Don’t know why BJP wants to attack their own PM for their policies. When Musharaff passed away, I recalled both-an implacable enemy but for 4 yrs thereafter he worked for peace. If they want to attack Vajpayee, I leave it to BJP. We’re too polite to attack Vajpayee.
Tharoor further said, Musharraf was an absolute implacable enemy of ours, responsible for Kargil but after 2002 it was different story. BJP Govt of PM Vajpayee negotiated ceasefire with Pakistan. There was joint statement with a handshake by Vajpayee-Musharraf.
