Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s speech at SAARC conference was reportedly blacked out. Apparently, no media personnel were allowed to cover Singh’s speech. Only Pakistan state PTV was allowed to cover introductory speeches of Pakistan PM and the Interior Minister. Even private Pakistan media was not allowed inside.
Meanwhile, both Rajnath Singh and his counterpart Chaudhary Nisar, who was the host at the SAARC conference lunch, did not attend the lunch. There is however no confirmation on this development.
The strain the India-Pakistan relationship was evident when both Singh and Nisar met face-to-face in the conference but barely shook hands before Singh moved into the meeting hall. In fact, members of the Indian media, which came from New Delhi to report the conference, were not allowed to capture the moment and was kept at a distance by Pakistani officials, which led to a verbal dual between a senior Indian official and a Pakistani official.
Singh was in Islamabad to attend the 7th SAARC Home/Interior Ministers’ conference during which he raised issues on cross-border terrorism.
Speaking at the conference, Singh sent a terse message to Pakistan on cross-border terrorism when he said, “There should be strongest action not only against terrorists or organisations but also against those individuals, organisations and nations.”
In a veiled reference to slain Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8 in Kashmir, Singh said there should be no glorification or eulogising of terrorists as martyrs. “Those who provide support, encouragement, give sanctuary and safe haven and assistance to terrorists and terrorism must be isolated. Mere condemnation of terrorism and terrorists is not enough,” added Singh.
(Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy:oneindia.com)
