Prime minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd during an election campaign rally in support of BJP candidates, in Sanand on Sunday. PTIIslamabad/New Delhi: Pakistan on Monday dubbed as "baseless and irresponsible" attempts by Indian politicians to drag it into India's domestic politics, a day after prime minister Narendra Modi alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat Assembly election.
Modi on Sunday claimed at an election rally that there was an attempt by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls, the second phase of which is scheduled for December 14.
Reacting to Modi's comments, Pakistan's foreign office spokesman Mohammad Faisal tweeted that "India should stop dragging Pakistan into its electoral debate and win victories on (its) own strength rather than fabricated conspiracies, which are utterly baseless and irresponsible".
The prime minister also raised questions about the alleged appeal by former director general (DG) of the Pakistan Army Sardar Arshad Rafiq for making senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel chief minister of Gujarat.
Modi alleged that Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had held a meeting at his house which was attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, a former Indian vice-president, Pakistan's high commissioner in India, and a former Pakistani foreign minister.
"On one hand, Pakistan Army's former DG is interfering in Gujarat's election, and on the other, Pakistani people are holding a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar's house. After that meeting, people of Gujarat, backward communities, poor people and Modi were insulted. Don't you think such events raise doubts?" he had said while addressing a poll rally in Gujarat.
Prasad raps Pakistan
Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad condemned the "unwarranted" statement by Pakistan on Gujarat elections, and seemed to suggest that it was aimed at bailing out Congress party.
Prasad said Indians were capable of contesting the country's democracy on their own.
"Today a very curious statement has been released by Pakistan foreign office condemning Pakistan being dragged into India's election and stated that Indians must learn to fight the elections on their own.
"Yes, I wish to tell Pakistan that Indians are capable of contesting India's democracy on their own as they do... India's Prime Minister is a popularly elected PM and so is the BJP," Prasad told reporters here.
India, he said, "completely abhors any outside interference in India's electoral affairs."
The role of Pakistan in promoting terrorism in India is too well known in the entire world and Pakistan. "Please stop giving us lessons. We are proud of India's democracy," he said.
"We are very productive of India's democracy and totally condemn this unwarranted statement from Pakistan," he said.
Prasad said it was "curious" that Congress leader Anand Sharma had denied any meeting taking place at the residence of Aiyar.
"And in today's newspapers...It is very evident as to who attended the meeting including from Pakistan and even Manmohan Singh went there in the get together," he said. "Why a wrong statement was made by Anand Sharma completely denying that no such meeting took place."
"Now it is whose turn to apologise? But what is curious is that this happens and Pakistan comes out with an official statement. In many ways seeking to bail out Congress party. Is it too suspicious? Surely, the country will draw its own conclusion," he added.
