India at war with itself, says Pak Minister

Karachi: The BJP's policy seems to be Pakistan-specific or Muslim-specific, but in reality "India is at war with itself", Pakistan's Information Minister Pervez Rashid said in a talk show on ARY News.

Taking a jibe at India over attacks on Pakistani artistes and disruption of a BCCI and PCB meeting by Shiv Sena activists, Pakistan's Information Minister said, "They (BJP) harass Muslims, Sikhs and even Christians. The BJP has a political narrative, which we feel is Pakistan-specific, because we are sitting in Pakistan. India is really at war with itself."

Talks between BCCI president Shashank Manohar and his Pakistan counterpart Shahryar Khan on the proposed bilateral series had been disrupted after the Shiv Sena activists forced the Board to cancel the meet in Mumbai.

Earlier, a 50-year-old man, Mohammad Akhlaq, was beaten to death and his 22-year-old son severely injured in Uttar Pradesh's Dadri village allegedly by a mob following a rumour that the family was storing and consuming beef.

Rashid said, "The BJP's policy is same as those who killed Mahatma Gandhi."

"They (BJP) will target their own party's people, they will target liberals. They are the people who represent an internal problem of India," he said further.

Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan were prevented from promoting their upcoming films in Maharashtra after threats from the Shiv Sena.

The Shiv Sena had also prevented legendary Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali from performing in Mumbai earlier this month.

Criticising recent incidents of attacks on Muslims, Pakistani journalist, foreign policy commentator and a television personality, Talat Hussain, who also participated in the talk show, Hussain said, "It is a messed up issue inside India."

Recalling what former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had once said, Hussain said:

"Manmohan Singh had said that India's biggest internal threat was from Naxalites. Hence, we should not make India's stance Muslim specific."

India's problem is structural whereof the trigger is being pulled by Modi, Hussain said.