During the Kargil War two decades ago, experts were prompt to notice that the Congress party, then in opposition, had more barbs aimed at the then ruling government of Atal Behari Vajpayee than at Pakistan!

Even during Narendra Modi’s first tenure between 2014-2019, a cursory glance at records would reveal more Congress-led opposition statements against the ruling BJP, than India’s eternal rival. By a strange coincidence — or shall we say happenstance — Congress often found itself on the same side as Pakistan.

It reached a stage when Islamabad started to quote the Congress in support of its argument, mostly on Kashmir. While that can be described as the pitfalls of democracy — Trump’s rivals also quote the Democrats to make a point — it becomes too much of a coincidence when the agreement becomes uniform at every step.

Since the abrogation of Article 370, the BJP has kept up its attack on the Congress for siding up for Pakistan on virtually every issue. Islamabad, in fact, went to the extent of quoting Rahul Gandhi at the UN to buttress its point about alleged atrocities in Kashmir.

Well, finally, it looks like the BJP’s counter offensive has worked. Congress has, unofficially, let it be known that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not accept Pakistan’s invitation for the inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor on November 9.

The Kartarpur corridor inauguration is Pakistan’s PR blitz to showcase its ‘secular’ credentials and its foreign minister had announced his desire to invite Manmohan. The former PM — or more specifically the Congress — aware of the underlying designs of Pakistan, have declined. Also, implicit is the feeling that the BJP will go on the offensive if Manmohan Singh attends the meeting and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not invited. The shoe is clearly in the other foot.