If he can’t retaliate, Modi must go to Pakistan: Congress

Panaji, Sep 19 (IANS) Instead of exchanging saris as gifts with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should either retaliate promptly to the killing of 18 soldiers or go to Pakistan himself, the Congress said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar also said that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar should stop visiting Goa on weekends.

"Modi had taken a sari as a gift when he went to meet Nawaz Sharif in violation of protocol... Now the PM should wear a sari and go to Pakistan if he cannot take appropriate action (following the Uri attack)," said Kawthankar.

He added that Modi and BJP President Amit Shah's rhetoric about avenging deaths of Indian soldiers in the past appeared to ring hollow.

Kawthankar said the Congress took objection to the repeated visits to Goa, especially during weekends, and said India "cannot afford a part-time Defence Minister".

"If Parrikar misses Goan fish and food, he should hire a cook and take him to Delhi with him... Parrikar should know that he is not the leader of opposition or Goa's Chief Minister any more," Kawthankar said.

Parrikar, a former Goa chief minister, was elevated as Defence Minister in the Modi-led cabinet. He will also be the BJP's star campaigner during the run-up to the 2017 state assembly polls.