PM Modi’s speech after ceasefire with Pak disappointing, many questions unanswered: Ashok Gehlot

New Delhi: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech to the nation on the evening of May 12 was deeply disappointing,” said senior party leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

No clarity, says Ashok Gehlot

The Congress said that PM Modi did not clarify so many things for which the country was waiting.

“First, there was a sudden ceasefire announced, which shocked and surprised the people. The announcement was first made by US president Donald Trump. Why? There was no answer for that,” said Ashok Gehlot. “The government has lost both moral courage and moral authority,” he remarked.

‘USA statement disturbing’

Stating that the US president’s statements were disturbing and dangerous, the Congress leader took strong objection to Trump suggesting his mediation in solving the Kashmir issue. He asked whether Trump was making those remarks on his own or if he had the consent of the government of India. He pointed out that it looked like Trump had started equating India with Pakistan.

He observed that the US has always tried to pressure India, pointing out how it threatened India during the 1971 war by deploying the Seventh Naval Fleet in the Bay of Bengal. He pointed out that despite that, the then prime minister Indira Gandhi went ahead and broke Pakistan into two parts, besides forcing 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to surrender.

‘PM Modi must explain and clarify’

Asserting that the prime minister needs to explain and clarify before the nation that when everything was going so well and our defence forces had the upper hand, making the Pakistani forces bite the dust, what happened all of a sudden that ceasefire was announced so spontaneously. He observed that a golden opportunity to settle the issue of terrorism once and for all was lost.

Gehlot strongly disapproved of Trump speaking just ahead of the prime minister’s address to the nation and saying that the US threatened both countries that in case they do not go for a ceasefire, trade will be stopped.

He said that the prime minister should have responded and clarified the statements made by Trump. He said, our government’s silence had further emboldened Trump, and he was making statements one after another to the extent of involving himself in the Kashmir issue, which is very dangerous. He made it categorically clear that no third-party mediation, not even of the United Nations, is acceptable.

‘Golden opportunity lost’

Observing that a golden opportunity to completely dismantle the terror infrastructure in Pakistan was lost, Gehlot expressed concern that there was no guarantee that Pakistan would not resort to acts of terror like those in Pahalgam and Pulwama again.

He maintained that if the ceasefire had to be reached, it should have been initiated at the level of the prime minister or the External Affairs minister, not by a third party. He said, there should have been concrete guarantees ensuring that in future, Pakistan and its army will not allow terrorist incidents against India.

Need for all-party meet

Referring to the prime minister’s remarks that terror and talks and blood and water can’t flow together, Gehlot said, PM Modi is known for such statements, but what actually matters is whether the big things he said last night will be implemented in future.

The senior Congress leader reiterated his party’s demand for an all-party meeting and a special session of the Parliament to address various concerns of the citizens.