'If Musharraf was anathema, why did BJP govt sign joint statement with him'

With several BJP leaders accusing him of eulogising Pervez Musharraf in his condolence message senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday asked if the former Pakistan president was anathema to all patriotic Indians why did the then BJPled government negotiate a ceasefire with him in 2003 and sign a joint statement in 2004Tharoors remarks came after several BJP leaders accused the Congress of Pakistan parasti worship and Union minister Jyoritiraditya Scindia asked if this was part of the Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan with enemiesAn Indian national partys leader first casts doubts on our soldiers act of bravery in Pulwama Scindia said in an apparent reference to Congress leader Digvijaya Singhs remarks recentlyThen another one eulogises Pervez Musharraf who was responsible for the Kargil war Haath se haath jodo abhiyaan with enemies Scindia said on Twitter on MondayCongress has launched the Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan to spread the message of the Bharat Jodo YatraAlso Read Govt doesnt want discussion on issues it feels would embarrass it claims Shashi TharoorApparently responding to the criticism by the BJP leaders Tharoor tweeted Question to BJP leaders frothing at the mouth if Musharraf was anathema to all patriotic Indians why did the BJP Government negotiate a ceasefire with him in 2003 amp sign the joint VajpayeeMusharraf statement of 2004Was he not seen as a credible peace partner then the former minister of state for external affairs askedIn his condolence post on Twitter Tharoor said former Pakistan president General retd Musharraf who died on Sunday was once an implacable foe of India but became a real force for peace between 20022007His remarks drew the BJPs ire which accused his party of eulogising the architect of the Kargil WarHowever BJP MP Subramanian Swamy tweeted that the death of former Pakistan President Gen Musharraf is sorrowful for those like him who knew him personallyHe came to power in Pakistan through a coup but was always anxious to find a way to peace with India Of course bottom line is he was a Pakistani Swamy tweeted MondayPakistans former military ruler Musharraf died on Sunday in Dubai after battling an incurable disease He was 79Pervez Musharraf Former Pakistani President Dies of Rare Disease once an implacable foe of India he became a real force for peace 20022007 Tharoor said in a tweet SundayI met him annually in those days at the un amp found him smart engaging amp clear in his strategic thinking RIP the former minister of state for external affairs saidUnion minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar slammed Tharoor for his tweetNothing like a proper military thrashing for Fatcat Pak Dictator Generals to become a force for peace and develop clear strategic thinking Notwithstanding many lives lost n Intl laws violated n harm caused all around these Generals will have their admiring fans in India sic Chandrasekhar saidIn another tweet he said That a former Cong Foreign Min a party that refused to celebrate Kargil Vijay Diwas till 2010 wud think that a Pak General who inflicted terror a backstabbing conflict and tortured our Soldiers in violation of every Intl law wud be a force for peace best describes Cong sicLater Sunday apparently responding to the criticism by BJP leaders Tharoor tweeted I was raised in an India where you are expected to speak kindly of people when they dieMusharraf was an implacable enemy amp was responsible for Kargil but he did work for peace with India in his own interest 20027 He was no friend but he saw strategic benefit in peace as did we the Congress leader saidTagging Tharoors earlier tweets BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla had said Pervez Musharraf architect of Kargil dictator accused of heinous crimes who considered Taliban amp Osama as brothers amp heroes who refused to even take back bodies of his own dead soldiers is being hailed by Congress Are you surprised Again Congress ki pak parastiBJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also slammed Tharoor saying Sharm ek Sheikh to Sharm Kar Shashi Misplaced priorities of a former external affairs ministerCongress eulogising a person who attacked our country during Kargil Indians revere martyrs Capt Vikram Batra Lt Manoj Pandey Grn Yogendra Yadav Rifleman Sanjay Kumar not Pervez he saidMusharraf who lived in selfimposed exile in the UAE to avoid criminal charges against him in Pakistan died at the American Hospital in DubaiHe was suffering from amyloidosis a rare disease caused by a buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body according to his familyMusharraf was born on August 11 1943 in DelhiHe assumed the post of Chief Executive after imposing martial law in the country in 1999 and served as the president of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole 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