Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore faced backlash after saying India would support Pakistan in a war against America. On Friday, he clarified, "I was talking about a cricket match." While the Congress party accused him of treason, BJP leaders defended him, saying his comments were taken out of context.
A day after his remark that "if there is a war between America and Pakistan, India is with Pakistan" triggered a political row, Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore clarified that his statement was made in the context of a cricket match and not war.
Opposition Congress, however, has slammed Rathore for Thursday's remark, accusing him of being a traitor.
In a media interaction on Friday, a visibly agitated Rathore said, "We have a relationship with Pakistan that is like enmity. It gets attacks carried out against us. How can we live with them? I was talking about a cricket match. One should understand the context before commenting."
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajendra Rathore also defended the state party president, saying his remarks had been taken out of context. He told reporters that the discussion was about a cricket match and not a possible war between India and Pakistan.
Rajendra Rathore said, "The issue was being blown out of proportion by Congress leaders who have no better job than creating controversies. There was no question of branding Madan Rathore a traitor over the statement."
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra launched a sharp attack on the BJP state president, questioning his remarks in view of Pakistan's alleged role in terrorist attacks in India and targeting of security personnel along the border.
Dotasra said expressing support for Pakistan, which "kills Indian citizens and sponsors terrorism", amounts to an insult to the sacrifices of soldiers and the sentiments of countrymen.
Dotasra wrote on X, "This affection for Pakistan shown by the BJP is not only an insult to the martyrdom of our brave soldiers and to crores of Indians, but it also amounts to treason. History bears witness that the BJP has always aligned itself with anti-national forces."
He said, "The BJP -- a party that is quick to issue certificates of patriotism to others -- is, in fact, deeply intertwined with Pakistan; these people are traitors."
On Thursday, a video of Madan Rathore had gone viral in which he was heard saying at a BJP event: "If there is a war between America and Pakistan in the future, we are with Pakistan. Because it is our neighbour. This is something we should have to understand. But when it comes to an issue among ourselves, we stand with our country. It is as simple as that."