Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Monday accused the BJP of being “a fake Chanakya” which agreed to an Indo-Pakistan ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump in order “to protect the interests of its beloved industrialist friend”.

Addressing a press conference, he said, “On what grounds did US President Trump intervene in a bilateral issue and why did we agree to his directions regarding a ceasefire? India is a sovereign country of 140 crore people and this decision has damaged the country’s image. It does not suit the prime minister who has been talking about teaching Pakistan a lesson”.

Advertisement

Raut said that India had an opportunity to teach “a lesson of its lifetime” to Pakistan, but the Modi government agreed to a ceasefire under the guise of intervention by the US president to protect its “beloved industrialist friend”.

Raut called BJP a “fake (nakli) Chanakya” and attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for agreeing to a ceasefire.

“Why did we allow United States President Donald Trump to become a sarpanch and Chaudhary and force a ceasefire over us? This ceasefire is a clear violation of the 1972 Shimla Agreement which does not allow any  third-party intervention in the Jammu & Kashmir issue. Who made Trump a sarpanch or Chaudhary? Our armed forces are capable, even when our political leadership is weak,” Raut said, attacking the BJP-led central government.

“Our armed forces were full of enthusiasm and they would have reached Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi or Islamabad, but who stopped it? We will not get such an opportunity to finish Pakistan again. Our leadership seems to have come under pressure. This is wrong,” Raut said, adding that celebrations are happening in Pakistan because of President Trump.

When it was suggested to him that the BJP leadership acts like “Chanakya”, Raut said, “The BJP is nakli (fake) Chanakya. Who gave Trump the right to interfere in Kashmir?”

He called for an immediate all-party meeting and a special session of the Parliament to discuss the India-Pakistan conflict.

“Modi has time. He is an experienced man. He is a very smart person. He will definitely address the country before the Bihar, West Bengal elections,” Raut replied after he was asked when the PM would make a statement on the ceasefire.