External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's speech at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly has failed to impress Congress leader Shashi Tharoor who said that her address was aimed at BJP voters in India.
Swaraj, in her speech on Saturday, called out Pakistan's "lie" that India is sabotaging the dialogue process and said that New Delhi had made many efforts to have talks with Islamabad and the only reason they have stopped is because of Pakistan's behaviour.
"We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of Pakistan's behaviour," she said in her address to the General Debate of the UNGA.
Reacting to her speech, Tharoor said Swaraj's scathing attack on Pakistan was aimed at sending out a message to her party's voters. India goes to polls in 2019 to elect a new government at the Centre.
"We get the sense that everything is about the political environment in India and this was a speech aimed at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) voters and sending a message to them particularly on subject of Pakistan rather than constructing a positive and constructive image of India in the world," the former junior minister of External Affairs said.
His party colleague and Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergil, however praised Sushma for her speech where she warned that the UN risks falling into irrelevance in the absence of fundamental reforms.
"Totally agree with @SushmaSwaraj Ji; the significance of multilateral institutions is decreasing day by day giving rise to unilateralism. Well said," he wrote on Twitter.
In her speech at the UNGA, Swaraj said that Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of state policy has not abated one bit. How India can pursue talks with a nation that "glorifies killers" and allows the Mumbai attack mastermind to "roam free" with impunity, she asked world leaders. She also warned multilateralism will collapse if the United Nations remains ineffective in absence of reforms. "I began by highlighting the unique and positive role of the UN, but I must add that step by slow step, the importance, influence, respect and value of this institution is beginning to ebb," Swaraj said.
Her speech was received well in India with BJP leaders showering praises on her.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley took to micro-blogging site Twitter, to express his appreciation for Swaraj's speech.
"EAM Smt. @SushmaSwaraj ji in her United Nation General Assembly address emphatically dislodged Pakistan's hypocritical role in curbing terrorism in the region. Congratulations to her on very effectively showing Pakistan its double face on terrorism and dialogue, and emphasizing India's stand." he tweeted.
BJP MP Kirron Kher and Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore also praised Swaraj.
"Amazing speech by @SushmaSwaraj at UNGA. Boldly naming and shaming Pakistan for terrorism. Kudos brave lady. More strength to you!" Kher tweeted.
Rathore called the EAM’s speech a “diplomatic surgical strike”.
"A diplomatic surgical strike by our EAM @SushmaSwaraj ji in #UNGA today. She has exposed Pakistan's support for terrorism in front of the world yet again. Kudos to her for a powerful speech!" he said in a tweet.
Another senior minister Mahesh Sharma also tweeted praising Ms Swaraj.
"Hon’ble EAM @SushmaSwaraj Ji delivers an electrifying and articulated speech in United Nations General Assembly, exposes Pakistan in front of the world. #sushmaswaraj at #UNGA," he said.
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, however, said that Swaraj should not waste her breath speaking about Pakistan at the UN.
"...I also think that Sushma Swaraj should not waste her breath speaking about Pakistan in the UN because Pakistan gets psychic pleasure when India abuses it. Just ignore Pakistan, prepare your military and one day break it up into four," he said on Sunday.
