Congress leader Rashid Alvi responded to former Pakistan minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain's praise of Rahul Gandhi by alleging that Hussain had been coerced by former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his government. Alvi claimed that Sharif, who purportedly has close ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, influenced Hussain's remarks in an attempt to benefit the BJP's election campaign.
Alvi's comments followed Hussain's social media post praising Rahul Gandhi, which triggered a sharp rebuke from the BJP. Alvi insinuated that Hussain's statement was politically motivated and aimed at exploiting the relationship between Sharif and Modi for the BJP's advantage in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Alvi's assertion was supported by his claim that Nawaz Sharif enjoys favorable relations with Prime Minister Modi, suggesting a nexus between the BJP and elements within Pakistan's political landscape. He further suggested that the BJP could utilize Hussain's statement to bolster its campaign narrative, insinuating that the timing of the praise was orchestrated to coincide with the weakening of the Congress.
Prime Minister Modi echoed similar sentiments, alleging that Pakistani leaders were rooting for the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Modi capitalized on Hussain's praise to portray the Congress as sympathetic to Pakistan's interests, reinforcing the BJP's campaign rhetoric against its political rivals.
The exchange underscores the political implications of cross-border statements and the BJP's efforts to leverage such remarks to their advantage. As the Lok Sabha elections unfold, the BJP appears poised to capitalize on any opportunity to discredit its opponents, even if it means invoking international relations for domestic political gain.
