Indian reporters not allowed into SAARC meet venue in Pakistan: HM

New Delhi Pakistani authorities did not allow entry of Indian mediapersons including those from PTI and Doordarshan inside the venue of 7th SAARC Home Ministers Meeting in Islamabad Home Minister Rajnath Singh said todayResponding to questions in Rajya Sabha after making a suo motu statement on yesterdays conference the Minister also said that after the meeting was over Pakistans Home Minister who was the host invited the participants for lunch but left in a car soon thereafterKeeping in mind the countrys prestige I did what I should have done I have no complaints I had not gone there for lunch he said amid thumping of benches by members He also said he was hestitant to say if the host were courteous I dont want to comment on it I have no qualms or complaints The Minister also said India is known globally for its meheman nawaazi hospitalitySeveral members had appreciated Singh for boycotting the lunch and criticised Pakistan for not showing due courtesy to the visiting Indian Home MinisterTo queries whether there was no telecast of his speech Singh said he was not aware of the convention and would need to ask the Ministry of External Affairs regarding itSince I was giving speech I did not see if it was live telecast or not But this is true that Doordarshan ANI and PTI reporters were not given permission to enter inside the venue he said as members condemned it by chanting shame shameRajya Sabha members also criticised Pakistan for allowing protest against India and the visit of Singh The Minister said as per the original plan he had to reach the hotel by road from Rawalpindi airbase but probably security officials later decided to use helicopterI saw people were protesting at several places in groups of 1025 or 100 he said adding had I bothered about the protest I probably wouldnt have gone to Pakistan Singh also said he did not register any protest against these protestsReports had said that members of the Indian media which went from New Delhi to report the conference were not allowed to enter the venue and kept at a distance by Pakistani officials leading to a verbal duel between a senior Indian official and a Pakistani officialThe Home Minister also skipped the official lunch as the host had left the venue the reports had saidRecalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees statement that one can change friends but not neighbours Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh have expressed sympathy with Pakistan as it too has been a victim of terrorHe said all Prime Ministers have made efforts to improve relations with neighboursBut the dilemma ispadosi hai ki maanta hi nahi the neighbour is not ready to changeMay God give sense to all he said evoking laughter in the HouseEarlier Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad seeking clarification on Singhs statement said his Congress party and ruling BJP may have differences but when the Prime Minister or the Home Minister travel abroad they are oneHe sought to know if local TV channels did not cover the Home Ministers visit and his statements and there was a media blackout He also sought to know whether protocol was not extended to him in accordance with Indias standing among SAARC nations and the host being absent at his reception and added if all this was true it was condemnableSubramanian Swamy BJP wanted to know if Singh took up with his Pakistani counterpart the daily retort by their Prime Minister about disintegrating India and Kashmir He wanted to know if he suggested to Pakistanis to take care of problems in their own backyardDerek OBrien TMC wanted to know if the Indian media including official media DD were not given access to the HomeMinisters speech which was blacked out He also wanted to know if this was the first instance of blackout or is there a precedenceAsked whether paramilitary forces should be given a free hand to deal with terrorists the Home Minister said that BSFhas been asked to maintain patience but if a bullet is fired then they do not need to seek permission for how theyhave to respond This is the standing orderAll members who spoke in the House appreciated Singh for his bold statement in Pakistan Mayawati BSP wanted to know if India would review its policy towards Pakistan while Ram Gopal Yadav SP suggested that BSF should be given free hand to deal with terrorists at bordersSenior JDU leader Sharad Yadav criticised Pakistan for not following protocol while the Indian Home Minister wasvisiting there He also wanted to know if there was a blackout of his speechA Navneethakrishnan AIADMK too criticised Pakistan for not showing courtesy to the visiting dignitary while MajeedMenon NCP condemned the neigbhouring country for allowing protest against India It was a good decision to boycott thelunch he saidD Raja CPI wanted to know how India is going to engage with Pakistan while Kanimozhi DMK drew attention of theHouse towards some youngsters joining terror groups Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma asked the Home Minister if there were any assurances on stopping drug smuggling and terror financing through money earned through these channels