ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri, accused along with Congress leaders of collusion, said he’s even met the head of India’s intelligence agency but that doesn’t mean they are hatching a conspiracy.
Kasuri was responding to allegations by India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who accused Congress leaders of being in cahoots with Pakistan to ensure the BJP loses the Assembly elections in Gujarat because some of them met at a social event.
The former Pakistan finance minister said these allegations were a vote gathering ploy by Modi.
“The allegations are baseless. They think that by giving it a Pakistan angle, they can get votes,” said Kasuri, to a private media outlet.
“I have met even the chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in previous seminars. So does that imply, all of them were colluders?” he asked, referring to India’s intelligence agency.
Kasuri was one of the attendees of a party hosted by the now-suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar. The party was attended by several dignitaries, including India’s former army chief Deepak Kapoor, former PM Manmohan Singh and former vice president Hamid Ansari.
Defending his presence at the event, Kasuri said that because of his association with the Pakistan-India peace process, he has been invited to several meetings and get together in the past.
On Sunday, during an election rally in Gujarat Modi alleged the Congress and Pakistan were hatching a conspiracy to ensure the BJP loses the Gujarat assembly elections.
“…news is that the Pakistan high commissioner and foreign minister and Manmohan Singh met at his house just before the Gujarat polls. This is a serious issue that I want to ask. What is the reason for secret meeting with Pakistanis,” asked Modi.
