India's envoy at UN in 2009 slams Congress for not pursuing Masood Azhar's listing

India's permanent representative to United Nations in 2009 Hardeep Singh Puri who had first proposed listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist has slammed the Congress for not pursuing the listing and having a flawed policy against Pakistan.

Speaking to reporters in Amritsar, Hardeep Singh Puri who is a minister now in Modi government's cabinet said, "I think the Congress is indulging in a false narrative and in a web of lies. You can start anything, you can make an effort, but have to pursue it and get it done."

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Asking Congress a counter question, Puri said, "I want to ask them is if you are saying you did it in 2009, then why didn't you pursue it."

India was trying to list Masood Azhar as an international terrorist for a decade, starting in 2009. In 2009, it was the loneproposer and did not get any support. In 2016, India again proposed the listing and it was co-sponsored by UK, US, France butit was blocked by China. In 2017, US, UK and France movedthe proposal but China blocked the move again.

Slamming the opposition Congress on its Pakistan policy, he said: "Basic approach towards dealing with Pakistan was completely flawed. Pakistan milked you on the nuclear strategic doctrine. When they attacked you in 26/11 and we lost300 people, you should have given a befitting response."

Explaining the current government's policy, Puri said, "Mr Modi made it very clear... we will give you a befitting reply if terror emanates." and the "Modi government has been able to alter that entire reality" by getting global support from a diverse set of countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, China and "US and France in any case".

The move in Februarysaw global support with 14 out of 15 members of UNSCbacking the move for the listing of Masood Azhar.

The proposal was moved by US, UK, France and co-sponsored by Australia, Bangladesh, Italy and Japan. In fact, after the Chinese hold in March, the French had announced they would put a freeze on the assets of Azhar and will raise the issue with the European Union.

Currently, a text has been circulated among all members of the European Union for listing of Azhar as a terrorist under EU jurisdiction.