Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto has defended his remarks against India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi which caused an uproar in India. FM Bilawal also decried the alleged death threats by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to the details, in an interview with a US TV channel Bloomberg, the foreign minister defended his stance and said that he has only repeated a proven historic fact. He added that not him, but the people of Gujrat invented the term of “the butcher of Gujrat” for Modi.
He said that Indian Muslims, especially in Gujrat, face violence under the Modi government. FM Bilawal also decried a member of BJP who reportedly said he would give a 20 million rupee ($240,000) reward to anyone who would behead the Pakistani politician.
Read more: Watch: FM Bilawal Bhutto gives befitting response to India at UN presser
“If I’m quoting somebody else, and referring to a historical fact that Modi would prefer we forget about, the response shouldn’t be a threat of assassination,” Bilawal Bhutto said.
WATCH: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, one of the country's most high-profile politicians, defends comments about Indian leader Narendra Modi that sparked an uproar between the long-feuding neighbors. Via @BloombergTV
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War of words between India & Pakistan
The war of words between India and Pakistan began when India’s Minister of Foreign Affairs S. Jaishankar accused Pakistan of perpetuating terrorism and sheltering Osama bin Laden at the UN Security Council and repeated the allegations while addressing the media at a UN stakeout site.
Responding to the allegations, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari told India that Osama Bin Laden has died but the butcher of Gujarat — Narendra Modi — is still alive and has become the prime minister of India.
“I would like to remind Mr. Jaishankar that Osama bin Laden is dead, but the butcher of Gujarat lives, and he is the prime minister (of India),” said Bilawal Bhutto.
Needless to say, the remarks caused an uproar in India. BJP condemned as “highly shameful and derogatory” remarks of FM Bilawal against their PM Modi and held nationwide protests.
Indian media also reported that BJP leader Manupal Hansal had announced a bounty of Indian rupees 20 million on Bilawal’s head following the comment.
Read more: BJP to hold nationwide protest over FM Bilawal’s remarks against PM Modi