PM Modi's Pak visit lacks seriousness and gravitas: Congress

New Delhi: Opposition Congress today dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ‘surprise' visit to Pakistan visit as pre-planned, claiming that the party had definitive information that it was not a spontaneous visit.

Citing the presence of an industrialist in the meeting, party spokesperson Anand Sharma asked, “An industrialist who has a private business with ruling establishment in Pak is there already, so how is PM visit spontaneous?”

Sharma also slammed the PM saying that the BJP had a hawkish approach towards Pakistan and that the party's stance before coming to power had prevented meaningful dialogue.

The former commerce minister further alleged that PM had not gone to Pakistan to develop an understanding in order to eliminate immediate threats and take forward the roadmap to engage with Pakistan.

Dismissing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's claim that Modi's move was statesman like, Sharma said, “This unannounced visit cannot be termed statesman like, Modi's diplomacy lacks seriousness and gravitas.”

”How many PMs and Heads of State make such detours to wish birthdays? In the last 67 years, has any Indian PM landed in another country in this manner,” Sharma asked.

He also said that the two PMs had a secret meeting in Kathmandu during SAARC summit.

"The move, if not preposterous, is utterly ridiculous. You can't do such things in such a cavalier manner," said the Congress' Manish Tiwari, who also warned, "PM Modi's adventures will have serious implications."