Live
- Why Despite the Controversy, America Is Anticipating the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Fight
- Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma Shine: Record-Breaking Feats in 4th T20I Against South Africa
- India Urges $1.3 Trillion Annual Climate Support for Developing Nations
- Bad air: 106 shuttle buses, 60 extra Metro trips planned to make Delhiites give up cars
- WHO reports declining monkeypox cases in Congo
- CM Attends Kotideepotsavam on Kartika Purnima
- PKL Season 11: Raiding trio of Devank, Ayan, Sandeep help Patna Pirates rout Bengal Warriorz
- Food waste crisis fuels sustainable practices across APAC food & beverage industry: Report
- AI helps erase racist deed restrictions in California
- ATMIS completes third phase of troops' drawdown in Somalia
Pakistan Army spokesperson defends Rajnath Singh over Shastra Puja row
In an unusual departure from his relentless attacks against the Indian government, Pakistan Army spokesperson Asif Ghafoor on Thursday defended Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Islamabad: In an unusual departure from his relentless attacks against the Indian government, Pakistan Army spokesperson Asif Ghafoor on Thursday defended Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who has been facing heat for performing 'Shastra Puja' after receiving the first Rafale fighter jet in France, saying, "Nothing wrong in Rafale Puja as it goes by the religion."
"Nothing wrong in #RafalePuja as it goes by the religion and that must be respected. Please, remember....it's not the machine alone which matters but competence, passion & resolve of the men handling that machine. Proud of our PAF Shaheens," tweeted Asif Ghafoor on Thursday.
The remarks come at a time when tensions between the two South Asian neighbours are at an all-time high. Indian action to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir did not go down well with Pakistan.
Singh on October 8, received the first of the 36 French-built Rafale fighter jet in the French port city of Bordeaux and performed 'Shastra Puja' (worship of weapons) on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami.
He emblazoned the Rafale aircraft with an 'Om' and laid flowers, coconut and lemons to ward off evil eye.
Following the event, Singh received a lot of flak on social media and also from the Congress party for conducting the puja. Senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge described Singh performing Shashtra Puja as "tamasha". Congress leader Udit Raj also raised objections saying the day "superstition" ends in India, the country will start making its own fighter jets.
