NCP accuses PM of twisting Pawar’s Pak remarks

Mumbai, Sep 19 (IANS) The Nationalist Congress Party has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of twisting party chief Sharad Pawar's recent comments on Pakistan, at his Nashik rally on Thursday.

"Modi should prove that Pawar had praised the rulers of Pakistan. The video of what Pawar said is available. We will quit politics if the allegations are correct or else the PM must apologise for misleading the country," national spokesperson for NCP Nawab Malik said in a sharp retort.

Addressing a public meeting in Nashik to mark the conclusion of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' 'Mahajanadesh Yatra', Modi had targeted Pawar.

He said that Congress leaders' utterances are exploited by other countries and extremist outfits against India.

"The confusion in Congress is understandable. But Sharad Pawar? It is sad when a senior leader like him makes such statements for getting votes. He said he likes the neigbouring country. But everybody knows where the terror factories are located," Modi said during his speech.

Malik told mediapersons in Mumbai that Modi had "distorted" Pawar's statements and said Modi has shown that the country's PM is a liar.

"Contrary to what Modi said, Pawar had clearly mentioned in his speech that the people of Pakistan are not anti-India, but the rulers and the army (of that country) had animosity towards this country," Malik pointed out.

He further said that it is actually Modi who likes the rulers of Pakistan as he invited the former PM of that nation Nawaz Sharif for his swearing-in in 2014, had paid a surprise visit to greet Sharif on his birthday in Dec. 2015, and also enjoyed biryani there.