Nation will pay cost of PM`s tea in Lahore: Congress

New Delhi: The Congress party on Saturday launched a tirade at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his surprise visit to Pakistan, saying that the cost of his meals would be paid by the country in terms of national security.

"What has changed between India and Pakistan that the Prime Minister dropped in for tea in Lahore? Has Pakistan agreed to re-arrest Lakhvi? Have they agreed to expedite the 26/11 trial? Have they agreed to handover Dawood Ibrahim to India? Have they agreed to return back the parts of Kashmir which are illegally occupied by them?" Congress leader Manish Tewari told ANI.

"Prime Minister can have breakfast in Kabul, tea in Lahore and dinner in New Delhi but the cost of that would be paid by the country in terms of its national security," he added.

The reaction of the Congress party comes after Prime Minister Modi`s surprise visit to Pakistan yesterday.

He landed at Lahore`s Allama Iqbal International Airport, where he was received by his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

On his way back to New Delhi from Kabul, Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif met at the latter`s residence Raiwind Palace, the ancestral home of the Sharifs, in Lahore, where he also discussed Indo-Pak relations with him.

"Beyond the noise, a personal connect. The Prime Ministers discuss #IndiaPakistan relations in Raiwind," tweeted Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs.