PM’s Pak visit path-breaking departure from protocol-driven politics: BJP

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise decision to stop over at Lahore as a ‘path-breaking’ departure from the ‘protocol-driven’ politics between India and Pakistan, BJP on Friday said there could not be a better day than the birthday of Atal Bihari Vajpayee for this.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said the two neighbours needed to inject informality in their relations, as is the case in many places of the world like the EU and ASEAN.

“PM Modi’s sudden stop over at Lahore to greet Pakiatan PM Nawaz Sharif is a much needed departure from protocol-driven politics between the two countries. Like leaders of other nations in the world like the EU, ASEAN and even countries in our neighborhood leaders of India and Pakistan too needed to inject informality in their relations,” Madhav, who plays an important role in shaping the party’s views on external affairs, tweeted.

“What better day than the birthday of Atalji for this path-breaking departure!,” he said.

BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said Modi had sent out a message about closer regional cooperation when he had taken the oath of office and his visit should be welcomed.

“We had the Ufa statement which was focused on our primary concern that is terrorism. There were hiccups after that. Then we had the Bangkok talk. Our Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Pakistan. If the two countries can try to have a positive approach and work out a relationship that brings peace not only between them but to the entire region and therefore to the world, then that is something that should be welcomed,” he said.

Kohli described Modi’s visit a “bold and innovative” gesture, adding that only by making concerted efforts lasting peace between the two countries can come by.

“No doubt there have been problems and hiccups but if effort is not made, then how can be peace achieved? This does not mean that India and Modi do not recognise that there are issues of concerns that matter to us,” he said.