Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Rathore’s ‘We will stand with Pak’ in case of war with US remark to fuel Cong, AAP | Today’s news
Rajasthan Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Madan Rathore has sparked a political controversy after he said that India would stand behind Pakistan if war broke out between Islamabad and the United States.
Rajasthan BJP chief sparks controversy with pro-Pakistan statement
His remarks drew sharp criticism from the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), raising questions about the BJP’s position before Rathore issued a clarification.
Speaking at the program in Jaipur, Rathore cited Pakistan’s status as India’s neighbor and discussed a hypothetical conflict between the two countries and the US.
“We all have to understand this. As far as India is concerned… If a war breaks out between the US and Pakistan today, we will stand with Pakistan because it is our neighbour,” he said, according to footage circulating on social media.
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The statement quickly became a political flashpoint, with opposition leaders accusing the BJP leader of making an irresponsible comment about India’s stance on Pakistan.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed launched a scathing attack on Rathore, calling him “anti-national” and questioned whether the BJP leadership would take action against him.
In a post on X, Mohamed accused the BJP of showing an affinity for Pakistan, which she says is responsible for attacks on Indian soldiers and civilians. She also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over Rathore’s remarks.
She wrote, “BJP’s love for the terrorist nation of Pakistan which is killing our soldiers and our people has come out again. Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore says he is with Pakistan if US and Pakistan go to war. Are @narendramodi and @AmitShah also with Pakistan? If not, let us know what action is being taken against this anti-national” (sic).
AAP also shared the video and questioned the BJP’s claims of nationalism.
The party questioned why people who raised concerns about the government were sometimes labeled as sympathetic to Pakistan, while a senior BJP leader’s remarks on standing with Pakistan drew no immediate public response from the party’s central leadership.
The criticism placed Rathore’s statement at the center of a wider political dispute over nationalism and how political leaders debate India’s relationship with its neighbour.
Madan Rathore says the remarks were about cricket
Rathore subsequently rejected the interpretation of his comments, saying they were misrepresented and misrepresented.
In a clarification shared on the official X account, the Rajasthan BJP claimed that his remarks were made in the context of a cricket match between India and Pakistan, rather than a hypothetical military conflict.
Rathore said the discussion was about patriotism and how people react when India loses to Pakistan in cricket.
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He wrote: “The statement I made was in the context of a cricket match between India and Pakistan, but my statement has been twisted and presented in a manner that is absolutely not appropriate (sic).
He also objected to what he described as a deliberate misrepresentation of his words.
The clarification has added another dimension to the controversy, with the opposition continuing to use the clip to challenge the BJP’s policy message of nationalism.