‘Will stand with Pakistan’: BJP Rajasthan chief’s remark triggers Opposition fire, he apologises

A controversial remark by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader about extending support to Pakistan in the event of war with the United States has triggered a storm in the political circles, with the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launching sharp attacks on the BJP, questioning its nationalism.

While the Congress accused the BJP of expressing support for the country it blames for attacks on Indian citizens, AAP sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response.

'If there is a war between America and Pakistan, I will stand with Pakistan, because it is our neighbour,” Madan Rathore, who is the BJP Rajasthan president, can be heard saying in the video shared by AAP and Congress.

“BJP's love for Pakistan has surfaced again. Yes, BJP will side with that very Pakistan which orchestrated the murder of Indian citizens. Treason runs through every vein of BJP folks,” Congress posted on X.

“When the public asks questions, they're Pakistani; when youth raise their voices, they're terrorists! But when a BJP leader talks about standing with Pakistan, where does Modi's nationalism disappear to? Is the BJP, which talks about standing with Pakistan, a traitor or not, Mr. Modi?” APP posted on X.

In his defence, Rathore claimed that his statement was made in the context of an India-Pakistan cricket match and was taken out of context.

“The statement I made was in the context of the cricket match between India and Pakistan, but my statement was distorted and presented in a way that is absolutely not appropriate,” Madan Rathore said.

Nidhi Giri is a Senior Content Producer at the Hindustan Times. A Delhi-based journalist with over four years of experience in the news media industry, she specialises in national affairs, geopolitics, and policy shifts. Her expertise spans breaking news coverage, live blogging, and long-form explainers. Prior to joining HT, Nidhi was part of the newsrooms at Asian News International (ANI) and The Daily Jagran where she led newsroom shifts, contributed to planned content, and edited stories. She has led real-time coverage of major national and international events. Highlights of her career include an exclusive interview with Supreme Court Judge Justice N Kotiswar Singh, coverage of Lok Sabha Polls 2024, Union Budget, Operation Sindoor, Parliament Sessions, multiple state assembly elections, G20 New Delhi Summit 2023, India AI Summit, US Presidential Elections, and US-Iran conflict. Nidhi is an alumna of Birla Vidya Niketan, Delhi, and holds a BA in English Honours from Bharati College, University of Delhi. She also holds a PG Diploma in English Journalism from Indian Institute Of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and an MA in Mass Communication. Outside the newsroom, Nidhi enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new restaurants, and maintaining an active lifestyle through her gym sessions. Read More