Play store
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has criticised the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office for cropping Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi out of a photograph from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, saying Pakistan should not “play such games” with India.
“What Pakistan has done is extremely unfortunate. Pakistan has always attempted such things. However, I would say that while they may have removed Modi Ji’s photograph, if Modi Ji wants, he can remove Pakistan from the world picture,” Shinde said on Tuesday.
His remarks came after the office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shared an edited version of the SCO family photograph in which Sharif was placed at the centre while several leaders, including Modi, were cropped out. The original photograph, taken ahead of a session of the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, showed the leaders of member states standing together.
Shinde also referred to India’s military action against terrorist targets in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, saying the Indian armed forces had destroyed terrorist bases and 11 airbase camps in Pakistan.
He said the entire country was proud of the armed forces and Modi’s leadership, adding that Pakistan should not attempt such tactics against India.
Shinde further said removing Modi from a photograph could not diminish his standing in India or internationally, describing him as one of the world’s most popular leaders.
The 26th SCO summit, marking the organisation’s 25th anniversary, focused on regional cooperation as well as security, economic and geopolitical challenges. The summit was held in an expanded “SCO Plus” format involving member, partner and observer countries.
Addressing the summit, Modi called for a united fight against terrorism and said there should be no “double standards” in dealing with the issue. He called for dismantling the entire ecosystem of terrorism, including its financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens.
Source: The Times of India
