Abhi's return our diplomatic victory: Amit Shah

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah said on Friday that creating a situation for the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan in such a short span of time was a diplomatic victory.

Wg Cdr Varthaman, who was in Pakistan's custody since Wednesday, was released on Friday night.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in Parliament on Thursday that Wg Cdr Varthaman would be released as a 'peace gesture'.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi, Shah said, "The air-strikes after the Pulwama terror attack has now isolated Pakistan globally, this is a victory of our diplomacy.

"Creating situation for return of pilot Abhinandan in such a short span of time is our diplomatic victory".

The BJP president also slammed Khan for not condemning the Pulwama terror attack and asked how India can trust him.

Shah said the Modi government has been able to create 'fear' among those behind terrorism with its actions against Pakistan-based terrorists, and asserted a message has gone that India is no longer ruled by a dispensation that was at the helm between 2004-14, referring to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance.

Asked about Khan's offer for talks with India, the BJP chief said, "He does not have two words of condemnation that the incident (Pulwama attack) was wrong. He should condemn it. How can we trust you. What are you talking?"

"You will speak and we will listen without finding out your intentions," he said, referring to Khan's comments that he was ready for talks.

In his brief reference to the Pulwama incident in which 41 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in a terror attack, Khan had said on Wednesday, "We know how the families of those killed in Pulwama incident must have felt. We have been the victims of war for decades."

Shah said it may be possible that Khan is not in control, but he should have at least paid a 'lip service' and condemned the attack.

Putting the UPA government in the dock for not giving a befitting reply to the enemy after the Mumbai terror attack in 2008, he said the Modi government has been the best dispensation since Independence in responding to terrorism.

"We have a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and the Modi government has the will to implement it on ground. Whenever we are attacked, we will give a befitting reply. Enemies will now think ten times before doing something," the BJP chief said.

Hitting out at the Opposition over its accusation that the BJP was 'politicising' the sacrifices of the armed forces, Shah said it has become a "reason for happiness" for Pakistan.

The joint statement of opposition parties brought cheers to Pakistan and its media, he claimed.

He also attacked former prime minister Manmohan Singh for his statement on Wednesday in which he had hoped that saner counsels will prevail in India and Pakistan, and had noted that they are grappling with another crisis of the 'mad rush of mutual self destruction'.

Pakistan and India cannot be equated as one sponsors terrorism and the other is acting in self-defence, Shah said.

"How can you put the two countries on the same platform? Can the country (India) be run with such a mindset. I am surprised," he said.

To a question about the row over BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa's claim that air strikes in Pakistan will help the saffron party win 22 of the 28 seats in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha polls, Shah said he was doing an "analysis" of the current situation but added that he should not have said so.

Expressing confidence of the BJP's win in the general election, he said Modi has given hope to over 50 crore people that there is a prime minister who thinks about them.

The central government has improved living standards of over 22 crore families, Shah said.