‘Co-sponsoring Karachi lit fest exposes government’s duplicity’

New Delhi, Feb 13: The Congress on Monday hit out at the Centre over the ICCR’s role in co-sponsoring the Karachi Literature Festival, saying it “exposes the rendra Modi government’s duplicity, hypocrisy and a complete lack of a policy towards Pakistan”. The Congress also slammed Prime Minister rendra Modi for what it said was using armed forces as a prop for political and electoral purposes. India’s premier cultural organisation, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), was one of the sponsors of Pakistan’s Karachi Literature Festival held from February 10-12. It came at a time when Pakistani artistes are banned from performing in India. “In an election rally, Modi said ‘Attack me if you want, don’t ever question the integrity of our armed forces’. It is extremely unfortute and highly regrettable that the Prime Minister is using or misusing armed forces as a prop for political and electoral purposes,” said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari. “It is ironic that the Prime Minister’s statement comes when reports have emerged that the Bharatiya Jata Party-led central government through the ICCR has decided to part-sponsor the Karachi Literature Festival,” he said.  (IANS)