Indian minister expresses ‘disgust’ after attending Pakistan Day reception

Singh attended the event at Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi where several Kashmiri leaders were also present

Shortly after representing the Indian government at Pakistan Day reception held at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi Monday night, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh tweeted with the hashtag ‘Disgusted', hinting that he might have been unhappy at being deputed to it.

#DISGUST
To offend the moral sense, principles, or taste of

— Gen VK Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) March 23, 2015

Singh, who was in the party for just a few minutes, appeared uncomfortable while sitting next to the Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit.

PHOTO COURTESY: PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Pak National Day celebrations: Syed Ali Shah Geelani at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/3aZ9fDTJwA

— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2015

Besides Singh, a former Indian army chief, several several Kashmiri separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yaseen Malik were also present at the event.

Pak National Day celebrations: V K Singh at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/ONMwuFtbbp

— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2015

In response to a question regarding his presence at the reception, the minister said "The government of India had to sent an MoS. They sent me and I went there and came back."

On a question whether he was asked by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the event at the Pakistan high commission, Singh said, "The government of India asked me to go there."

Read: Don't think Indian govt objects to us meeting Hurriyat leaders: Abdul Basit

Earlier in the day the Pakistani high commissioner claimed that the Indian government does not object to his meetings with Hurriyat leaders.

Down playing his meetings with Hurriyat leaders which have earlier been the cause for India cancelling foreign secretary-level talks, Basit said, “Don’t try to make an issue out of non-issue.”

"There should be no scope for misunderstanding or misrepresenting India's position on the role of the so- called Hurriyat.  Let me reiterate there are only two parties and there is no place for a third party in resolution of India-Pakistan issues," rebuked Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

#DISGUST
To sicken or fill with loathing

— Gen VK Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) March 23, 2015

#DUTY
A job or service allocated

— Gen VK Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) March 23, 2015

After a reaction in the media on his tweets, the retired general said he was "disgusted to see certain sections of the media are twisting this issue."

#'Disgust'ed to see how certain sections of the media are twisting this issue

— Gen VK Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) March 23, 2015

 

The article originally appeared on The Times of India