New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stern warning to Pakistan on Wednesday and said that it should stop meddling in other countries' affairs for its own welfare and asked the neighboring country to put an end to its nefarious designs.
“Democracy is all about communication. But we won't tolerate anybody raising pro-Pak slogans on Indian territory,” he said while addressing a Jan Kalyan Parv in Jammu.
Giving a strong warning to those who want to harm India's pride, integrity and sovereignty, he said that the country would give a befitting reply to such people.
"We trust our army, our paramilitary and our forces. No question can be raised on their integrity and love for the country," he said.
Singh said India always extended a hand of friendship towards its neighbouring countries including Pakistan, but Pakistan always resorted to backstabbing.
"Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee extended a hand of friendship towards Pakistan, but it stabbed in the back. Then when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the office a year ago, he invited all the heads of the state of the neighbouring countries to the swearing-in ceremony including the Pakistan Prime Minister," he said.
He said that Pakistan must think over its actions as it has not been reciprocating the positive response of India towards it.
"We cannot allow anybody to give a slogan of 'Pakistan zindabad' on the Indian soil. BJP believes that all Indians, be it Hindus, Muslim or Christians, are nationalists. But if anyone standing on Indian soil shouts Pakistan zindabad, then no matter from which religion he belongs, the government will not accept that," he had said.
Singh said the state government has been asked to take strong action against people who raise pro-Pakistan slogans and wave Pakistani flag. "The Jammu and Kashmir government has been acting on this direction."
The Home Minister said he feels pained to see the youth of the state, especially of Kashmir, being misguided.
"It pains me to see the youth being misguided. When some misguided youth raise pro-Pak slogans and wave Pakistan flags, it is not a good thing. I appeal to such youths not to get misguided. We need everybody's cooperation to move forward, to take this country forward," he said.
He said it was against the tenets of Islam and every other religion to praise another country while living in one.
"It goes against the tenets of Islam or even against the tenets of Hinduism to praise another country while living in one country. Islam and even Hinduism do not accept this," he said.
Later while addressing a press conference Singh said the youth should boycott the people who raise pro-Pakistan slogans and wave Pakistani flags in the Valley. "The youth must not come under the influence of those handful of misguided people who want to misguide others as well."
He appealed to the youth to give an opportunity to the government to work for them as it was ready to hold dialogue with everyone.
"There is a process those who want to hold dialogue are welcome and we are ready to hold talks with them, they must talk to the elected government in the state first and then if need be they can talk to us as well," he said.
He said separatists were playing with the emotions of the youth of Kashmir and that the youth must come forward and take part in constructive activities.
Meanwhile, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader today launched a scathing attack on Congress and said that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government cleared 40 defence proposals in the past one year while the Congress government took years to decide on defence deals.
Rajnath said that the Congress government was victim of policy paralysis and added that the NDA government has brought transparency.
(With PTI Inputs)
