Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's blistering response to India’s renewed terror mantra against Pakistan has gone viral. Bilawal called Modi “Butcher of Gujarat”, a nickname he had earned for overseeing a pogrom of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 when he was the state chief minister.
After India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar accused Pakistan of being the “epicenter of terrorism” for “harbouring Osama bin Laden”, Bilawal, in his UNSC address, said, “Osama Bin Laden is dead but the Butcher of Gujarat lives and he is the prime minister of India. He was banned from entering this country until he became prime minister. This is the prime minister of the RSS and the foreign minister of the RSS. What is the RSS? The RSS draws its inspiration from Hitler’s SS."
Several have since been praising Bilawal for his riposte, while many have also been criticising him. Actor and host Fakhr-e-Alam tweeted, "Batsman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari...and that’s a six. Middle of the bat, out of the park!"
Batsman @BBhuttoZardari …..And that’s a SIX….Middle of the bat….out of the park…🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/TUHuPsHO7Z
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) December 16, 2022
A user wrote, "Politics aside, Bilawal's take down of India at UN was incredible. Whoever at Foreign Office spoonfed him to say so needs a raise. A job welldone!" Another added, "I have lots of political differences with Bilawal Zardari's politics but i really appreciate him for giving a befitting reply to India. Give credit where credit is due!"
Politics aside, Bilawal's take down of India at UN was incredible. Whoever at Foreign Office spoonfed him to say so needs a raise. A job welldone! https://t.co/7SG69RE9NX
— OSINT Insider (@OSINT_Insider) December 16, 2022
I have lots of political differences with Bilawal Zardari's politics but i really appreciate him for giving a befitting reply to India. Give credit where credit is due!! 👏🏻pic.twitter.com/QJ1t3EPY6f
— Saith Abdullah (@SaithAbdullah99) December 16, 2022
Many praised Bilawal's "courage"to speak truth to power while others lauded his diplomacy and oration.
This courage, bravery and the ability to speak truth to power is what we were missing in the Foreign Ministry. Watch Bilawal defend Pakistan against islamophobia of the western narrative by citing the sacrifices of muslims. Particularly, of his own mother.pic.twitter.com/7zF7n6PLEq
— Anaya Khan (@AnayaNKhan) December 16, 2022
Bilawal's diplomacy is winning the hearts of top diplomats. #BilawalOurPride pic.twitter.com/m073c23L7P
— Maryam Bhutto (@BhuttoMaryam) December 15, 2022
Ufff Bilawal! 🔥 ...what a speech. What an orator he is. And the content of what he spoke! This is exactly the international stance I want to get behind as a Pakistani https://t.co/iN1pf61YWq
— Bissmah Mehmud (@bissmahmehmud) December 16, 2022
No doubt Bilawal pleaded the case of Pakistan, brilliantly 👏 👏 https://t.co/9Fqh00AeVr
— Naimat Khan (@NKMalazai) December 16, 2022
Elan CEO Khadija Shah, however, while praising Bilawal's speech, also aired her reservations about him. "Bilawal spoke well. He’s an Oxford grad, trained in public speaking. One can expect nothing less. Take anyone from Pakistan’s National debate team, make them FM -they’d do the same. At 1 Arab 75 crore this was a pretty expensive shaming of Modi on our part. Zero expected gain." In another tweet she maintained she will applaud Bilawal the day his performance serves the people of Sindh.
Bilawal spoke well. He’s an Oxford grad, trained in public speaking. One can expect nothing less. Take anyone from Pakistan’s National debate team, make them FM -they’d do the same. At 1 Arab 75 crore this was a pretty expensive shaming of Modi on our part. Zero expected gain.
— KhadijahShah (@khadijah_shah) December 16, 2022
I will genuinely applaud Bilawal the day his performance serves the ppl of sindh.
— KhadijahShah (@khadijah_shah) December 16, 2022
A user also reminded everyone of the time the 'Butcher of Gujrat' was invited to attend Nawaz Sharif's grand daughter's wedding, and was given a "red carpet welcome".
Remember when the butcher of Gujrat attended Bilawal's coalition partner's family wedding and was given a red carpet welcome? Nawaz even wore the pink turban the butcher gifted him. Good times. pic.twitter.com/pmpgivDvuX
— اسریٰ (@freakonomist5) December 16, 2022
Filmmaker Assad Zulfiqar Khan, albeit, has shunned the people refusing to give Bilawal credit for his declaration. And he feels it's mostly PTI fans.
Loving how all PTI fans are attempting to undermine Bilawal’s fantastic press conference yesterday. Bhai if anyone with an Oxford education could do it then what was stopping Makhdoom ‘Deep Pockets’ Qureshi and Imran ‘Listen Becky’ Khan ?
— Assad Zulfiqar Khan (@pseudorebel) December 16, 2022
Shah, among several others, also criticised the amount of money spent on Bilawal's foreign trips.
1 Arab 75 crores just on Bilawal’s foreign trips. Money of a flood stricken country teetering on default. This alone shows their actual commitment to Pakistan and it’s people. https://t.co/rnoQUd410v
— KhadijahShah (@khadijah_shah) December 13, 2022
Lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii, however, held that travelling was part of Bilawal's job as a foreign minister.
It is ridiculous how people are whinging about Bilawal’s foreign trips being unnecessary at a time when austerity is needed.
— Abdul Moiz Jaferii (@Jaferii) December 16, 2022
He is a foreign minister. It’s his job to travel the world. Meanwhile your army chief has a private jet, unaudited fuel expenses. No answerability.
The verbal slugfest happened on the sidelines of an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on Friday. Stung by Bilawal’s criticism, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson has called his address a “new low even for Pakistan.” The BJP said it would stage nationwide protest on Saturday against the “shameful and insulting” statement of the Pakistani foreign minister.
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