NEW DELHI: India’s opposition parties targeted on Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Pakistan media reports that Pathankot attack was “stage-managed” by India and that its joint investigation team (JIT) was not provided with evidence of cross-border involvement of terrorists. The remarks drew a sharp response from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Attacking the prime minister, the Congress tweeted: “Did Modiji invite the Pakistani JIT so that they could insult the memory of our brave martyrs?” while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the “invitation” amounted to giving a “clean chit” to ISI for the terror attack in January.

Mr Kejriwal also demanded that Mr Modi tender an “apology” for the “monumental” foreign policy failure. An ISI official was part of the five-member JIT that was in India last week.

The Janata Dal-United said the claim by an unnamed JIT member quoted in the media reports was a “slap” on the face the country for which the Modi government must take responsibility.

The BJP termed “shameful” Mr Kejriwal’s attack on Modi for “inviting” JIT to India and his cabinet colleague Kapil Mishra asking “do we have an ISI agent as PM now?”

The Congress demanded an apology from BJP chief Amit Shah for “having distributed certificates of sincerity to Pakistan” in the light of the Pakistani media reports.

Congress’ communication department chief Randeep Surjewala said: “It is now clear that neither has Modiji’s rhetoric of “56 inches chest” or showing “red eyes to Pakistan and China” paid off nor has his sudden visit to Pakistan and attending feasts and marriage parties with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had any effect.”

Mr Surjewala said the prime minister should “rise over theatrics” and take diplomacy seriously, which the country expected as 125 crore people of India are feeling “betrayed” by Modi.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2016