Shahid Afridi slams Modi, praises Rahul

NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday latched on to former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi 's praise of Rahul Gandhi as having a "positive mindset" to target the Congress neta, saying he has been a "darling" of Pakistan & people of the neighbouring country can choose him as their leader.

Afridi was critical of PM Modi and his dispensation while he praised Gandhi during a Pakistani TV discussion. The conversation went viral amid a furore in Pakistan over Indian cricket team's decision to not shake hands with their rivals during the Asia Cup match . The decision was seen as an expression of solidarity with victims of Pahalgam attack.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju said, "Rahul has been the darling of Pakistan! Afridi and people of Pakistan can make Rahul their leader."

BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya said, "Afridi says Rahul wants 'dialogue' with Pakistan, while attacking Modi by comparing India's policy on Pakistan to Israel's actions in Gaza. Why is it that every India-hater finds a friend in Rahul Gandhi?"