New Delhi: Amid ongoing controversy over alleged 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans by supporters of the Congress MP-elect Syed Naseer Hussain outside Karnataka Vidhana Soudha, veteran party leader BK Hariprasad has stoked a fresh row, saying 'Pakistan enemy country for the BJP, not for us (Congress)'. After facing flak, he also defended his pro-Pak remarks, saying, "I said Pakistan is our neighbouring state. Let the BJP declare Pakistan an enemy state. The BJP is fully active in playing dirty tricks. Whatever statement I made in the Council, I stand by that," BK Hariprasad said while speaking on Thursday.

Moreover, he stated that Pakistan should be declared an enemy state by the central government and should ban all trade with them. "If at all the BJP feels that Pakistan is an enemy state, the central government should ban all the trade and they should declare Pak an enemy state. Until and unless they declare Pak an enemy state we can't call them an enemy state. So they are our neighbour," the Congress legislator said.

He further claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter's wedding in Lahore without invitation. "PM Modi went to Pak to attend Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter's marriage without an invitation, breaking all protocols; we have not done any such thing. Whatever I have said, I stand by that," Hariprasad said.  

How The Controversy Started?

Addressing the legislative council, Hariprasad claimed that Pakistan may be an enemy country for the BJP, but the Congress considers it a neighbouring country. "They (BJP) speak about our relationship with an enemy country. According to them, Pakistan is an enemy country. For us, Pakistan is not an enemy country, it's our neighbouring country. They say Pakistan is our enemy country. Recently, they awarded the Bharat Ratna to LK Advani, who visited Jinnah's mausoleum in Lahore and said there was no other secular leader like him. Was Pakistan not an enemy country then?" Hariprasad said while speaking in the assembly.  

'Congress can go to any extent for votes'

Reacting strongly to Hariprasad's statement, Karnataka Deputy LoP and BJP leader Arvind Bellad said, "It is extremely sad that a senior leader from Congress, BK Hariprasad, said so. Very unfortunate. We all know what Pakistan has done to India and Indians. This shows Congress' mentality. In order to appease minorities and Muslims, just for votes, Congress can go to any extent," he added.

Hitting out at the Congress leader, BJP said that this statement made the party's 'attitude' clear. "What is the attitude and position of Congress towards Pakistan? BK Hariprasad made it clear in the council, that Jawaharlal Nehru-Mohammed Ali Jinnah has made it clear that the close relationship between Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah has continued even to the present generation by calling Pakistan an enemy of the BJP and Pakistan a neighbour for Congress," a post on BJP Karnataka's official handle on X stated.  

"Apart from standing by those who shouted slogans of Pakistan Zindabad in the Vidhan Sabha, there will be a lack of words if one insults the mindset of the Congressmen that Pakistan, which has declared war on India four times, is not an enemy nation. Anti-national sentiments like @HariprasadBK2 are rampant at all levels of Congress," the post read.