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Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mind the Gap: Sindoor and its aftermath
How many military operations can you name? Most will remember Operation Blue Star, when Indira Gandhi ordered troops into the Golden Temple in 1984, some might have heard of Operation Vijay that led to the incorporation of Goa, Daman and Diu into India in 1961. There's the chummy Operation Maitri which delivered humanitarian aid to Nepal in 2015. There is no ambiguity about Operation Sindoor, the name reportedly chosen personally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that refers to the red vermillion powder worn by married Hindu women, to avenge the killing of their husbands by terrorists in Pahalgam. In choosing the name, the prime minister, who has consistently sought to project himself as a champion of nari shakti, was seeking to put women at the heart of India's retaliation against terror camps located within Pakistan. Not everyone got the memo. Op Sindoor did not protect Himanshi Narwal whose photograph seated beside the body of her husband, Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal on April 22 became emblematic of the tragedy. But, days later when she publicly denounced hatred and appealed for peace, she came under severe troll attack. Commentators like Frontline editor Vaishna Roy who tweeted her criticism of the name, Operation Sindoor for its 'patriarchy, ownership of women, 'honour' killings, chastity' and so on also came under troll attack. Then there were those like BJP member of Parliament Ram Chander Jangra who castigated the women who lost their loved ones for failing to show fighting spirit. Other motormouth BJP leaders such as Vijay Shah, a minister in the Madhya Pradesh government questioned the credentials of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, one of two women army spokeswomen, as a 'sister' of terrorists. Following a Supreme Court-ordered investigation into his atrocious statement, Shah quickly clarified that his words were a 'linguistic mistake'. At an NDA meeting, Modi cautioned leaders from speaking out of turn. Yet, even the government's stated concern for women citizens did not prevent it from including BJP member of Parliament M.J. Akbar in its outreach delegation. Accused of sexual harassment by at least 20 women journalists, including one who said he had raped her, Akbar stepped down as minister of state for external affairs in 2018 and has subsequently lost a defamation suit he filed against one of his detractors. That case is now in appeal at the Delhi high court. In a statement, the Network of Women in Media said: 'his presence in the delegation undermines the values India seeks to project abroad.'
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Government With Double Face": MJ Akbar On Why Talks With Pak Are A "Bluff"
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Former union minister MJ Akbar criticised Pakistan, calling its government double-faced and deceptive during an Indian event in Copenhagen. He emphasised that talks with Pakistan are mere bluffs, claiming they exploit discussions to prepare for terrorism. New Delhi: Former union minister MJ Akbar, part of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, took a "snake" jibe at Pakistan, saying the country has a government with a "forked tongue" and is "double-faced". Speaking to an Indian crowd in Copenhagen, the former minister of state for external affairs referred to the talks Pakistan has been pushing India for after New Delhi's strong measures against Islamabad in view of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people died. "Pakistan has a government with a double face, which face do we talk to? Pakistan has a government with a forked tongue, whose tongue do we address? Pakistan has talks with a poisoned gets hurt when a tongue is poisoned? A snake is never killed by its own poison," Mr Akbar said. He added, "And yet we have the moral courage to say that we will talk on the issues that matter. We will not waste our time on talks which have become an excuse. All talks with Pakistan are simply a period which Pakistan exploits in order to prepare itself for the next terrorist attack. The talks are nothing but a bluff." Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's actions, Mr Akbar said, "We now have a leader who has actually called out Pakistan's has made as much effort to bring a nation with a genetic disorder to its senses." #WATCH | Copenhagen, Denmark | Former Union Minister MJ Akbar says, "Even well-meaning friends will ask you, why don't you talk to Pakistan? Tell them Pakistan has a government with a double face, which face do we talk to? Pakistan has a government with a forked tongue; whose… — ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2025 Mr Akbar is a part of the multi-party delegation, which includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, and Ambassador Pankaj Saran. It is led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad. The Centre has formed many delegations as a part of its diplomatic outreach program after Operation Sindoor - a targeted military strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack. The all-party delegations are visiting key partner countries and the UN Security Council. According to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, the delegations are projecting India's consensus and a resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Government With Double Face": MJ Akbar On Why Talks With Pak Is A "Bluff"
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Former union minister MJ Akbar criticised Pakistan, calling its government double-faced and deceptive during an Indian event in Copenhagen. He emphasised that talks with Pakistan are mere bluffs, claiming they exploit discussions to prepare for terrorism. New Delhi: Former union minister MJ Akbar, part of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, took a "snake" jibe at Pakistan, saying the country has a government with a "forked tongue" and is "double-faced". Speaking to an Indian crowd in Copenhagen, the former minister of state for external affairs referred to the talks Pakistan has been pushing India for after New Delhi's strong measures against Islamabad in view of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people died. "Pakistan has a government with a double face, which face do we talk to? Pakistan has a government with a forked tongue, whose tongue do we address? Pakistan has talks with a poisoned gets hurt when a tongue is poisoned? A snake is never killed by its own poison," Mr Akbar said. He added, "And yet we have the moral courage to say that we will talk on the issues that matter. We will not waste our time on talks which have become an excuse. All talks with Pakistan are simply a period which Pakistan exploits in order to prepare itself for the next terrorist attack. The talks are nothing but a bluff." Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's actions, Mr Akbar said, "We now have a leader who has actually called out Pakistan's has made as much effort to bring a nation with a genetic disorder to its senses." #WATCH | Copenhagen, Denmark | Former Union Minister MJ Akbar says, "Even well-meaning friends will ask you, why don't you talk to Pakistan? Tell them Pakistan has a government with a double face, which face do we talk to? Pakistan has a government with a forked tongue; whose… — ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2025 Mr Akbar is a part of the multi-party delegation, which includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari and Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, and Ambassador Pankaj Saran. It is led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad. The Centre has formed many delegations as a part of its diplomatic outreach program after Operation Sindoor - a targeted military strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack. The all-party delegations are visiting key partner countries and the UN Security Council. According to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, the delegations are projecting India's consensus and a resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Talks with Pakistan are a 'bluff': MJ Akbar hits out at 'double-faced' Pakistan
Live Events Desperation among protesters 'Human Rights Violations' 'IMF must see what loans are being used for' (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Former Minister of State of External Affairs MJ Akbar , who is also a part of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar, has called talks with Pakistan a 'bluff'.Speaking during an address to Indian diaspora at Copenhagen, the journalist-turned-politician also called Pakistan 'double-faced' and questioned that with which face should India talk to?"Even well-meaning friends will ask you, why don't you talk to Pakistan? Tell them Pakistan has a government with a double face, which face do we talk to? Pakistan has a government with a forked tongue; whose tongue do we address? Pakistan has talks with a poisoned tongue that gets hurt when a tongue is poisoned... The talks are nothing but a bluff," Akbar the Modi government 's response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism , Akbar added, "We now have a leader who has actually called the bluff, Narendar Modi... Nobody has made as much effort to bring a nation with a genetic disorder to its senses."Led by Ravi Shankar Prasad , the Indian delegation, is touring France, the UK, Germany, the EU, Italy, and Denmark. The Members of Parliament also include BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari, Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Ravi Shankar Prasad reacted strongly on Friday to anti-India slogans raised by Pakistani nationals outside a venue hosting an Indian parliamentary delegation in characterized the protest as an act of "desperation" and advised attendees to "ignore them with impunity."While addressing the Indian diaspora in Copenhagen, Prasad remarked on the motivations behind the protest, suggesting that the Pakistani demonstrators were spurred into action due to the extensive media coverage of India's global outreach program aimed at combating expressed his surprise at their presence, and said, 'I was very surprised to see Pakistanis here raising programme is going very are getting wide handlers in Pakistan must have told them to do something. They have come here in desperation. Pakistan is a desperate country that lives in desperation. Ignore them with impunity.'Prasad went on to shed light on the human rights violations occurring in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Balochistan , emphasizing the suffering of civilians in these said, 'What kind of ill treatment in PoK people are suffering, do you know? They are crying to shift to Balochistan, women are given the worst barbaric treatment is in great commotion fought four conventional of this India started, we only responded and Pakistan lost all of them... 'Jinnah ne banaya Pakistan woh ban gayi General ki Dukan' (Jinnah created Pakistan, it became an Army General's shop).'Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi highlighted the unity of all Indian parties against Pakistan."I am from the same Shiv Sena that dug up the cricket pitch to not allow Pakistan to play a cricket match in India and with the same commitment, I'm part of the joint delegation that has come from all political parties to say that as Indians we stand one and nobody can divide us," she also fired shots at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for providing a loan to Pakistan, suggesting that it has gone to the Pakistan disruptors outside the venue."As we were coming here, we saw some flags, and you all would know what those flags are. And I thought to myself, the IMF loan is coming in handy, and I hope those who are giving them the IMF loan realise what it's being used for," she said.(With ANI inputs)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Double face, which face do we talk to?': MJ Akbar at Copenhagen explains why dialogue with Pakistan is 'nothing but a bluff'
NEW DELHI: Former minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar, part of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, strongly criticised during an address to the Indian diaspora in Copenhagen on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Calling Pakistan a "double-faced" nation, Akbar questioned, 'Which face do we talk to?' He described Pakistan's government as having a "forked tongue" and said its approach to dialogue is nothing but a 'bluff.' Speaking at the event, Akbar declared, "Even well-meaning friends will ask you, why don't you talk to Pakistan? Tell them Pakistan has a government with a double face, which face do we talk to? Pakistan has a government with a forked tongue; whose tongue do we address?" "Pakistan talks with a poisoned tongue that gets hurt when a tongue is poisoned. The talks are nothing but a bluff. We now have a leader who has actually called the bluff, Narendra Modi... Nobody has made as much effort to bring a nation with a genetic disorder to its senses," he added. Akbar further referred to the recent Pahalgam terror attack and drew comparisons with instances of communal terrorism in Europe. "The recent Pahalgam terror attack was a brutal form, barbaric form of communal terrorism of the kind that Europe had also remarks that they made were enough to show that the mission that the delegation Prime Minister has sent is having an impact," Akbar noted. 'Pakistani abroad often use Indian names to hide identity' Further, addressing the Indian diaspora, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya said the delegation's main goal was to raise global awareness about terrorism. He also pointed out that many Pakistani businesses abroad often avoid revealing their Pakistani identity. "We are not seeking help from anyone with folded hands. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We are going everywhere in the world - and we have only one objective: to alert them that what is happening with us is bound to happen with them. Hence, this terrorism must be uprooted. Every Pakistani knows what they are; they can't even open a shop in the name of Pakistan outside their country, they use Indian names, Bhattacharya said. 'IMF must see how its loans to Pakistan are being used' (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi emphasised Indian unity against Pakistan, referencing her party's historical stance. She said, "I am from the same Shiv Sena that dug up the cricket pitch to not allow Pakistan to play a cricket match in India and with the same commitment, I'm part of the joint delegation that has come from all political parties to say that as Indians we stand one and nobody can divide us." Chaturvedi additionally questioned the IMF's decision to provide financial aid to Pakistan, suggesting the funds were misdirected to Pakistani disruptors outside the venue. "As we were coming here, we saw some flags, and you all would know what those flags are. And I thought to myself, the IMF loan is coming in handy, and I hope those who are giving them the IMF loan realise what it's being used for," she added. During the event, Manish Prabhat, India's Ambassador to Denmark, addressed anti-India protests by a small group outside the venue where the Indian parliamentary delegation was present. Criticising the protesters, Prabhat said, "This community is unlike the community, a representation of which you saw outside on the street. And we know that how much amount they have been paid to put their duty here." He commended the Indian diaspora in Denmark for their constructive contributions and successful cultural assimilation. 'Opium was trafficked from Pakistan into Punjab' Congress MP Amar Singh expressed apprehension regarding Pakistan's role in cross-border terrorism and drug trafficking activities. He called for unity amongst Indians when dealing with such external challenges. "In Punjab, especially after 1971, what happened was that opium was used to be sent from Pakistan. Punjab is the centre in North India for transporting drugs to Delhi and other parts of India. And I'm an eyewitness to those things. As a child, as a school student, then college student, and now for the last eight to ten years, again, as an eyewitness, that drugs and weapons are coming through drones," he said. He noted the recent recovery of numerous drones carrying narcotics and weapons in Punjab's border villages. Discussing previous terror incidents, he stated "When we know the reality that our neighbouring country, Pakistan, is doing this thing, how can we be quiet on this issue? And this issue has to be shared, and we all want to share with the international community that the issue of terrorism is now very serious. And in India, you will all remember Mumbai and then Pulwama, Uri, Pathankot and now Pahalgam. We all have to be united, oppose it. Terrorism is bad. Drugs are bad, weapons are bad, it damages the society." 'Pakistan has to be called out for atrocities' Earlier on Friday, former Danish Ambassador to India Freddy Svane praised the delegation's efforts to raise global awareness about terrorism. He supported their initiative to communicate the importance of unified action against terror. Svane backed India's position regarding Pakistan, emphasising the necessity for joint action against terrorism, stating "Pakistan has to be called out for atrocities." Speaking to ANI, Svane said, "We have this all-party delegation visiting Denmark is just really securing that we not only are listening but we also talk and we have a dialogue, and now it's time for us to stand shoulder to shoulder to take action." The visiting Indian delegation in Copenhagen, headed by Ravi Shankar Prasad, comprises BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari, Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Akbar, and Ambassador Pankaj Saran. During the visit, the delegation engaged with several former Danish MPs, including Freddy Svane (former Danish ambassador to India), Manu Sareen, Helle Degn (vice president of the Mandela Center), and Niels Ahlmann-Ohlsen (now CEO of Strategic Alliance International ApS). The discussions aimed to boost bilateral relations and promote mutual cooperation. During their visit, the delegation also met with Christian Friis Bach, Chairperson of the Danish Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee, and Danish MP Trine Pertou Mach. The group also attended a luncheon interaction hosted by the Indian Ambassador, where they exchanged ideas with former Danish parliamentarians.
