india

Updated: May 04, 2019 12:00 IST

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Friday that the Congress lacked the political will but Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic skill led to the UN declaring Jaish-e-mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist and the isolation of Pakistan in the international community.

She said the demand to declare Masood Azhar a global terrorist was being raised since 2009 but due to Modi’s diplomatic skills, Azhar was declared a global terrorist on May 1.

“After the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai in which 166 people were killed, the then UPA government could have isolated Pakistan but it could not due to lack of political will. Our government has given a befitting reply to Pakistan after the Uri and Pulwama attacks,” she said while addressing the Vijay Sankalp Samwad in which women from various fields and different sections of society participated.

She said Prime Minister Modi is among the prominent leaders in the world and is now setting the global agenda.

She said in the last five years, India’s respect in the international stage has grown and a lot of development work has taken place. “Five years back India was among the weakest economies in the world while now it is the world’s sixth biggest economy.”

She said any Indian citizen who sought help on twitter was given assistance and resolution of their problems within 24 hours. She said the Indian government has been successful in bringing back 2.75 lakh persons stranded in other countries.

She said the government had made its slogan ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ a reality. “Our government has given 10% reservation to economically weaker sections (EWS), has increased tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh for middle class and given constitutional status to the OBCS. The Haj quota for Muslims has been increased and Muslim women has got a reprieve from triple talaq,” Swaraj said. “This all became possible becase Modi hai toh mumkin hai.”

At another press conference, BJP leader and former minister Vasudev Devnani said Lok Sabha election results would be a jolt to the Congress, claiming that the BJP will win all 25 seats. He said political equations in Rajasthan would change after declaration of results.