During a visit to Denmark, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad strongly criticized a group of Pakistani nationals who raised anti-India slogans outside a venue hosting an Indian parliamentary delegation in Copenhagen. Calling the protest a desperate act by elements rattled by India’s rising global profile and tough stand on terrorism, Prasad urged the Indian diaspora to dismiss the incident and focus on India’s growing influence.
Speaking at a gathering of the Indian community, Prasad said the protest was a reaction to India’s successful outreach. He noted that the international coverage of India’s firm message against terrorism seemed to have triggered the response. “I was surprised to see Pakistanis shouting slogans here. Our programme is getting widespread attention. Their handlers in Pakistan must have directed them to do something. They have come here in sheer desperation,” Prasad said, adding that Pakistan continues to exist in a state of frustration.
Targeting Pakistan’s Human Rights Record
In a scathing attack on Pakistan’s internal issues, Prasad pointed to the severe human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Balochistan. He said people in PoK are suffering under harsh conditions and many wish to be part of India. “Women in Balochistan face the worst kind of barbaric treatment,” he added. Emphasizing India’s defensive posture in past conflicts, Prasad remarked, “We fought four wars, none initiated by us. Pakistan lost all of them. Jinnah created Pakistan, and it turned into a shop for military generals.”
MJ Akbar Questions Pakistan’s Credibility
Supporting Prasad’s remarks, former Union Minister MJ Akbar also criticized Pakistan, questioning its credibility in dialogue. He said Pakistan presents a dual face and speaks with a “forked tongue,” making any engagement meaningless. “Even friends ask why we don’t talk to Pakistan. Which face should we talk to? Their words are poison, and their offers of dialogue are bluff,” Akbar said. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for exposing Pakistan’s double standards and refusing to fall for deceptive peace overtures.
The Indian delegation in Copenhagen included BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, Samik Bhattacharya, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran. The incident has drawn strong reactions from both ruling and opposition leaders, reflecting a unified stand against what is perceived as orchestrated provocation from Pakistani elements abroad.
