BJP today termed India agreeing with Pakistan that "terrorism should not be linked to the composite dialogue process" as "sheer betrayal" and "U-turn" adding it was done under international pressure.
"This step by India has come as a shock. It is sheer betrayal and U-turn by the government. They are buckling under international pressure," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
He added Pakistan has shown "no signs" of controlling terrorist activity against India from its soil. This was clear from the continued terrorist activity in Kashmir and on the Indo-Pak border.
Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj had said if terrorism is taken out, the dialogue process would cease to be "composite".
"If terrorism is set aside, then how does the dialogue become composite? It ceases to be composite as a composite dialogue has to be all-pervasive."
She added though issues like trade and transfer of prisoners were important matters which should be discussed, setting aside terrorism while doing so was not acceptable.
Also Read
"We will oppose this move by the government," she said.
Another BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy dubbed the government's move as an attempt to "dilute" India's fight against terror.
"There was no reason to dilute the intensity of our crusade against terror which we believe is the nation's priority."