Shiv Sena on Sunday reacted strongly to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s statement dedicating Pak Independence Day to “Kashmir’s freedom” demanding that the envoy should be sent back to Islamabad within 24 hours.
“Such a person, who spews venom against the country sitting in Delhi, should to sent back to Islamabad within 24 hours. He is making such statement a day before our Independence Day and I’m sure the government will take action against him,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told news agency ANI.
Raut also called for shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission office in New Delhi and the embassy in Mumbai.
In a provocative statement today at Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, Basit said, ““Is saal ki Jashn e Azadi hum Kashmir ki Azadi ke naam karte hain (We dedicate this year’s Independence Day celebration to Kashmir’s freedom).”
Basit was reiterating Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement.
“I dedicate this year’s 14th August to the freedom of Kashmir,” Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in his message for the Independence Day, according to The Express Tribune.
“I dedicate it to the people of Kashmir who have bravely faced state oppression but kept the spirit of freedom alive. This Independence is also memorable due to the fact that nowadays the spirit of independence in Occupied Kashmir is at its peak,” Sharif said in a statement issued by the PM House.
The Congress also condemned Basit’s statement and demanded an apology from the envoy, adding the ‘56 inch’ government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completely failed in its efforts to ostracise Islamabad.
