BJP eyes election boost from Masood Azhar's ban by UN

Describing the UNSC decision against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader Masood Azhar as diplomatic victory for India, union government on Thursday said that Azhar’s listing as a global terrorist was because international pressure and diplomatic pressure of India.

Speaking to media on Thursday, finance minister Arun JAitley and Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that there were 35 declared terrorist prganisation based in Pakiatn and the decision against Azhar was because of the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The announcement comes as a major win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the election season as the party is likely to raise the issue in its political campaign.

“There is zero tolerance against terrorism and it has been a consistent policy of the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There was persistent effort of the government and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is consistent in its policy that it will not be tolerated,” said defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while talking to reporters on Thursday.

Senior leaders of BJP believe that it is a major diplomatic victory for the union government and it adds to the BJP narrative of national security which is built around the slogan Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai (If Modi is there, it is possible).

"Of course this issue will become a talking point in the general election campaign. This has happened because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts and it further strengthens our narrative that Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai (If Modi is there, it is possible)," said a senior BJP leader who is part of the campaign strategy.

Azhar’s listing as a terrorist comes two decades after he and two others were released from Jammu’s Kot Balwal jail in exchange for the about 160 passengers on board the Indian Airlines IC 814 aircraft that was hijacked on its way from Kathmandu to New Delhi in December 1999. The French proposal was supported by the US and the UK but China on 13 March put a technical hold on it -- stalling the move.

“Government and PM should be applauded. When the country wins, every Indian wins. It is unfortunate that some friends in the opposition think that if they join in this victory they might have to pay a political price for it,” said finance minister Arun Jaitley talking to media.

The impact of the decision was visible on Wednesday evening, soon after the announcement by UNSC, as Modi raised the issue during a public meeting in Jaipur. During the rally, Modi said the world was ready to listen to the voice of India and no country could possibly ignore India anymore.

"The world is with India in its fight against terrorism and I am thankful to other countries for their support on behalf of 130 crore Indians. We will hit terror targets wherever it is originates," Modi said at a public meeting on Wednesday.

Watch video: Victory for India as UN blacklists Pulwama mastermind Azhar

The UNSC decision against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader Masood Azhar comes as a major win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the election season as the party is likely to raise the issue in its political campaign.

Senior leaders of BJP believe that it is a major diplomatic victory for the union government and it adds to the BJP narrative of national security which is built around the slogan Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai (If Modi is there, it is possible).

"Of course this issue will become a talking point in the general election campaign. This has happened because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts and it further strengthens our narrative that Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai (If Modi is there, it is possible)," said a senior BJP leader who is part of the campaign strategy.

Azhar’s listing as a terrorist comes two decades after he and two others were released from Jammu’s Kot Balwal jail in exchange for the about 160 passengers on board the Indian Airlines IC 814 aircraft that was hijacked on its way from Kathmandu to New Delhi in December 1999. The French proposal was supported by the US and the UK but China on 13 March put a technical hold on it -- stalling the move.

The impact of the decision was visible on Wednesday evening, soon after the announcement by UNSC, as Modi raised the issue during a public meeting in Jaipur. During the rally, Modi said the world was ready to listen to the voice of India and no country could possibly ignore India anymore.

"The world is with India in its fight against terrorism and I am thankful to other countries for their support on behalf of 130 crore Indians. We will hit terror targets wherever it is originates," Modi said at a public meeting on Wednesday.

The latest attempt to ensure Azhar was banned by the UN came in the form of a proposal moved by France in February following the Pulwama attack in which a suicide bomber rammed a car full of explosives into a bus carrying security personnel. The JeM claimed responsibility for the attack.

India’s first attempt to get Azhar listed as a terrorist at the UN came in 2009, seven years after his JeM group was designated a terrorist outfit by the UN. The UN action came after it joined hands with the Lashkar-e-Taiba to launch an attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001.

Since 2016, New Delhi has made concerted efforts to get Azhar named a terrorist following a series of attacks on Indian military installations in Kashmir, all of which were blamed on his group. But all of India’s efforts came to nought with China -- an all-weather friend of Pakistan -- blocking the efforts.