‘Stand with Pakistan’ if it goes to war with US, says Rajasthan BJP chief
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Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore sparked a controversy after saying India would stand with Pakistan if it went to war with the United States.
He later claimed on Friday that his remarks had been taken out of context.
Rathore made the statement at an event in Jaipur on Thursday while explaining India-Pakistan relations as neighbouring countries.
“When it comes to India… If a war breaks out between the US and Pakistan today, we will stand with Pakistan because it is our neighbour… But when it comes to an issue between us, we stand with our India. Right? That is what we need to understand,” he said.
The Congress criticised Rathore over his remarks.
Sharing a clip of his speech on X, party spokesperson Shama Mohamed said, “The BJP’s love for the terrorist nation Pakistan, which kills our soldiers and our people, has come on display once again. Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore says he is with Pakistan if the US and Pakistan go to war. Let us know what action is being taken against this anti-national.”
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also criticised the BJP leader.
In a post on X, it questioned the party's position on nationalism and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to Rathore's statement.
Rathore later defended himself, claiming his remarks had been distorted and presented without context. In a clarification shared by the Rajasthan BJP unit on X, he said the statement referred to a cricket match.
“I had said it in the context of a cricket match. If there is a match between India and Pakistan and we lose, anyone bursting crackers then would be anti-national. However, when it comes to Pakistan and the US, then it is another matter. If someone chooses to twist this and present a 7-second clip like this, it shows their ill intentions.”
“Twisting my statement like this is an injustice to me,” he said.