NEW DELHI: An ill-considered and hasty attack on President Barack Obama by BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy by way of an "official reaction" for not mentioning Pakistan's role in 26/11 at a gathering that included victims of the terror attack has left top party leaders red-faced.
The criticism aired barely hours after Obama landed in India was seen to be an immature reading of the US president's stance on terrorism and while Rudy later tried to save face by claiming his reaction was more in the nature of "expectations" which Indians have from Obama, it was evident that the spokesperson had spoken out of turn.
"It was the first address by the US President at a place (Taj Hotel) which saw the biggest terror attack on India. It was a complete disappointment as the world and United States had proof that the attack was planned on Pakistani soil by its intelligence agencies. He had words which were not backed with action and intent," Rudy had said, adding that New Delhi seemed keen to provide a political bailout to Obama.
As criticism mounted in the media and among India's strategic community over Rudy's trigger-happy and unthinking reaction, the party had no option but to wash its hands off the matter. Obama's former campaign manager Peter Dagher described Rudy's reaction as "beneath India".
When contacted by TOI, BJP president Nitin Gadkari stubbornly refused to comment on whether or not what Rudy had said was the party's official reaction. "I don't want to talk about this matter on phone. Please talk to either Arun Jaitley or Sushma Swaraj," said Gadkari.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rudys-attack-leaves-BJP-HQ-red-faced/articleshow/6881790.cms