Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said former Pakistani president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who died on Sunday, was “once an implacable enemy of India” but later became a “real force for peace”, drawing the ire of the BJP, which accused him of . a party “glorifying” the architect of the Kargil war.
Pakistan’s former military ruler Musharraf died on Sunday in Dubai after battling a terminal illness. He was 79. Tharoor’s social media post condoling his demise drew a sharp response from the BJP, which accused the Congress of “Pakistan parasti (worshipping)”.
“Pervez Musharraf, former president of Pakistan, dies of rare disease”: India’s once implacable enemy became a real force for peace in 2002-2007,” Tharoor tweeted.
The former foreign secretary said “I met him annually at the @un at the time and found him to be smart, engaging and clear in his strategic thinking. RIP,” Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticized Tharoor for his tweet.
“Nothing like a proper military battle for Fatcat Pak’s dictatorial generals to become a ‘force for peace’ and develop ‘clear strategic thinking’. They can’t resist the many lives lost, the violation of international law and the damage caused all around, these generals will have their adoring fans. in India (sic),” said Chandrasekhar.
In another tweet, he said, “That the former Cong Foreign Min (a party that refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas until 2010) thinks that General Pak who caused terror, backstabbing conflict and tortured our soldiers in violation of every international law, wud be a ‘force for peace’ – best describes Cong (sic).”
Later, apparently in response to criticism from BJP leaders, Tharoor tweeted: “I was brought up in India where you are expected to speak kindly of people when they die.”
The Congress leader said “Musharraf was an implacable enemy and was responsible for Kargil, but in his own interest he worked for peace with India from 2002-7. He was no friend, but he saw the strategic benefit in peace, as we did”.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla tagged Tharoor’s earlier tweets and said: “Pervez Musharraf architect of Kargil, dictator, accused of heinous crimes, who considered Taliban and Osama as ‘brothers’ and ‘heroes’ who refused to take back the bodies of their own dead soldiers.” Congress is calling you! Are you surprised? Again, Congress ki pak parasti!”
“Once upon a time Musharraf welcomed Rahul Gandhi as a gentleman, perhaps Musharraf has endeared himself to the Congress?”From 370 to surgical strike to Balakote doubting congress, Pak line echoed and called Musharraf but called our own boss ‘Sadak Ka Gunda’.. This is Congress!!” said Poonawalla.
In another tweet, the BJP leader shared an old video of Musharraf talking about how his son was invited by Rahul Gandhi and Musharraf’s wife, brother and son were invited for lunch by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when they were visiting Delhi, during his tenure. as the President of Pakistan.
Musharraf, who had been living in self-imposed exile in the UAE to avoid criminal charges against him in Pakistan, died at an American hospital in Dubai. According to his family, he suffered from amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by the accumulation of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body. Musharraf was born on August 11, 1943 in Delhi.
He assumed the post of Director General after the imposition of martial law in the country in 1999 and served as President of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008. In his condolence message, former J-K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said that Musharraf is perhaps the only Pakistani general who actually tried to resolve the Kashmir issue.
