This Article is From Aug 16, 2016

All Should Speak In One Voice On Balochistan: Minister Venkaiah Naidu

All Should Speak In One Voice On Balochistan: Minister Venkaiah Naidu

Venkaiah Naidu said all parties should avoid making statement which hurts India's interests.

New Delhi: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu has appealed to the Congress party to speak in one voice with the nation on India's stand on international issues like Balochistan which also figured in PM's Independence Day speech.

Mr Naidu said all parties should avoid making statement which hurts India's interests after senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid attacked PM's statement on PoK and Balochistan.

"As far as international issues are concerned India should speak with one voice. But unfortunately Congress party is not speaking with one voice within the party also. There is a statement from Salman Khurshid, there is a statement by Kapil Sibal, subsequently a statement given by Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

Mr Khurshid said the main opposition party must bear with the country on issues of national interest.

Try to understand the implications. We must all speak with one voice. Our neighbor is aiding, habituating (sic) and funding terrorism in the country continuously. It can't go on like this," Mr Naidu said on the sidelines of an event in Delhi.

Mr Khurshid had yesterday accused PM Modi of "ruining" India's case on Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) by raking up the issue of Balochistan in his Independence Day address.

But Congress distanced itself from the remarks and asked the government to raise the issue of "atrocities in Balochistan and PoK" in bilaterals with Pakistan as also at international forums.

Taking a strong note of Pakistan's position on Kashmir, Mr Naidu said that Kashmir is integral part of India.

"Government of India and state government are capable of handling Kashmir. There is an elected government in the state," he said.

"They are trying to give us lectures about Kashmir, that's why we have told them what is happening in Balochistan, PoK and Gilgit. Let them focus about human rights violation masscare and atrocities there," Mr Naidu added.
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