Highlights
- Rajnath Singh makes statement in Rajya Sabha on Pak visit
- He said 'India took strong stand against terror at SAARC meet'
- Indian reporters weren't allowed to enter SAARC meet, he confirmed
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in an acerbic comment on Pakistan while telling parliament about his brief and tense visit to Islamabad, said today: "All our PMs have done their best to improve relations with our neighbours but yeh padosi hai ki maanta hi nahin hai (this neighbour never learns)."
Mr Singh said that at the SAARC meeting of home ministers, India took a strong stand against terror and urged all members that "there is a need to take strongest action not just against terrorists but also those who support terrorism."
He described Pakistan as the "biggest violator of human rights" - a response to his Pakistani counterpart's allegations yesterday of rights violations in Kashmir.
Mr Singh returned yesterday after his two-day visit that was replete with messages and gestures telegraphing bitterness on both sides.
Opposition parties rallied behind the government and condemned Pakistan for "the way the home minister was treated" and what they called a "blackout" of his speech; Mr Singh's statement was not broadcast by Pakistani media but India's foreign ministry has denied that it was a blackout.
"The home minister did not receive respect and honour due to him in Pakistan during his visit as per protocol, we condemn it," said Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
"I strongly condemn how Pakistan didn't maintain protocol and treated our home minister, the entire nation stand united," Janata Dal United leader Sharad Yadav said.
The home minister replied: "It is true that reporters who had come from India were not allowed to enter."
Amid cries of "shame" from the house, he continued: "I will not comment whether Pakistan was right or wrong in not allowing coverage. I did not register any protest there. I will need to ask the foreign ministry about protocol of past occasions."
At the summit, the home minister used his speech to criticize Pakistan for inciting the recent unrest in Kashmir which has left at least 50 people dead in clashes that began with last month's shooting of 22-year-old terrorist Burhan Wani by security forces.
"I urged all (SAARC) members that terrorists should not be glorified or patronized," the home minister told the Rajya Sabha.