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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took aim at supporters of "terrorism" in his Independence Day speech, ratcheting up criticism of Pakistan while avoiding direct mention of month-long protests in Indian-ruled Kashmir.
Mr Modi also pitched a vision of national unity and progress in his third annual address yesterday from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi that, at 94 minutes, was the longest delivered by the 65-year-old leader.
Yet it was a broadside against Pakistan, the arch-rival also born out of independence from Britain and partition, that left the strongest impression in a speech that otherwise skirted foreign affairs and focused on his government's own achievements.
"What kind of life is this, inspired by terrorism? What kind of government set-up is it that is inspired by terrorism?" asked Mr Modi, who delivered the open-air address amid a security lockdown in the Indian capital.
"The world will know about it and that's sufficient for me."
Kashmir has witnessed violent protests since a July 8 encounter in which security forces killed a commander of the Pakistan-based militant group Hizbul Mujahideen.
As of yesterday, at least 54 people had been killed and thousands hurt in clashes with security forces.
Mr Modi met national party leaders on Friday to seek ways to end the worst unrest in Kashmir since 2010.
Both India and Pakistan rule Kashmir in part but claim it in full. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two wars since independence 69 years ago over the Muslim-majority region where the Line of Control, or de facto border, still runs roughly where the guns fell silent in 1948.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz has strongly criticized Indian PM Narendra Modi over his remarks on Balochistan in his Independence Day speech.
In a statement issued by Foreign Office, Sartaj Aziz said, “Modi’s reference to Balochistan, which is an integral of Pakistan, only proves Pakistan's contention that India through its main intelligence agency RAW, has been fomenting terrorism in the province.”
The adviser went on to say this was also confirmed by the public confession of RAW's active service Naval Officer, Kulbhushan Yadav
He further said that Modi is trying to divert world’s attention from Kashmir where over 70 innocents have been martyred and 6,000 injured over the past five weeks. There is constant curfew and complete media blackout for the past 37 days.
“These events have nothing to do with terrorism. It is an indigenous movement for self-determination, a right promised to the Kashmiris by the UN Security Council”, he remarked.
Sartaj Aziz said, “India should recognize that the core issue of Kashmir cannot be resolved by bullets. It requires a political solution, through serious negotiations between India and Pakistan.”
(APD)
