India is a country with small heart: PML-Q secretary general

ISLAMABAD - Describing India as a country with a ’small heart’, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said orthodox elements dominate India’s political fibre, which reflected extremist tendencies.

Speaking during a seminar, Sayed referred to the recent controversy surrounding former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, and said the incident highlighted the ‘intolerance’ that persists in India when it comes to freedom of speech and expression.

Singh’s book on Mohammad Ali Jinnah :”Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence” had created a furore in India, but received an overwhelming response in Pakistan

Singh was expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as he described Jinnah as a leader who had strong faith in united India, while blaming Sardar Patel for the partition in 1947 in his book.

“The core issue is not anything else but India’s small heart. Here in Pakistan, we can praise Nehru and Gandhi without facing any threats, resistance or opposition but if Jaswant praises our Quaid, he loses his job, if Advani does so, he loses his job, they must have a heart to accept something even if they don’t like it,” The Daily Times quoted Sayed, as saying.

Replying to a question, he said India and China cannot be compared.

“Apples cannot be compared with oranges,” Sayed added.

He said the prime motive of the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2005 was to counter China’s increasing strength in the region.

Continuing the India bashing programme, Former Secretary Riaz Khokhar said New Delhi is far behind Beijing in terms of economy and military strength.

“There’s no comparison between India and Hong Kong, let alone China,” Khokhar said.

Responding to question, he said China is a party to Kashmir issue, as per an agreement that took place in 1963, however, added: “China doesn’t interfere in the affairs of other states.”

He also criticized India for its presence in Afghanistan, and said Pakistan must respond to the nefarious designs of both India and the US in Afghanistan.

“If India wants friendly relations with Afghanistan and seeks economic prospects, it’s understandable, every country wants friendly relation with other states but its military presence and aggressive designs are not justified at all, India must mend its fences,” Khokhar said. (ANI)