Modi harbinger of innovative diplomacy: Rajnath Singh

Lucknow: Welcoming the surprise meeting between the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers in Lahore, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday hailed Narendra Modi as the "harbinger of innovative diplomacy" as he drew parallels between him and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A day after Modi's visit to the neighbouring country, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in more than a decade, Singh further said that the move was in line with Vajpayee's vision for India-Pakistan ties.

"Modi is the harbinger of innovative diplomacy," he said at a function here to mark the birth anniversary of Vajpayee, who had during his tenure as prime minister travelled in 1999 to Lahore from New Delhi on the inaugural run of a bus route. Singh said that it was mainly due to Modi's efforts that the influence and image of the country improved globally.

"In independent India, after Vajpayeeji, if there is someone who has made the country proud and raised its dignity in front of the world, it is Narendra Modi," said Singh. The Home Minister maintained that the "visit was in line with the vision of Vajapyee on India-Pakistan relations".

He also mentioned the visit of US President Barack Obama to India in 2010 and said that "India is not emerging, but India has emerged". Talking about Vajpayee, Singh said that the former prime minister's contribution, too, has been of importance in independent India's resurgence. Meanwhile, asked about graft allegations against Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Singh said they were all baseless and his integrity could not be doubted.