File photo of Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad
Senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad on Wednesday raised questions whether the controversial statement by Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was aimed at helping Narendra Modi to win the Lok Sabha elections.
"Is Pakistan also helping Modi to become PM? Statement by Pak against India's any leader during election will help him for sure. Smart move?" Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad posted on Twitter.
The Pakistani Interior Minister had yesterday claimed that Narendra Modi, if elected as India's Prime Minister, would "destabilise" regional peace. He had also attributed certain remarks related to fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim to Mr Modi and criticised him.
Mr Khan's remarks drew sharp reaction in India. BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi said that Mr Modi was only questioning certain remarks made by Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and asked Pakistan to "mend its ways" and stop interfering in India's internal matters.
Earlier in the day, Mr Ahmad who is also a Congress spokesperson, had told reporters that there was no need for any such advise from a Pakistani minister as Indian people were wise enough to take their own electoral decisions.
Congress leader and Union Minister Manish Tewari said Mr Khan's statement is very unfortunate, condemnable and the Pakistan government must do introspection on it.
A few days earlier, Mr Ahmad had made another comment in which he had suggested that a "troubled India under Modi" would suit Pakistan more.
"A troubled India under Modi will suit Pakistan more than a peaceful India under Congress. Giriraj and BJP are trying to fool their own supporters," Mr Ahmad had said.