Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has slammed Pakistan for instigating and supporting violence in Jammu & Kashmir. His statement came after the Congress hit out at Pakistan for “mischievously” dragging the name of Rahul Gandhi in its alleged petition moved to the United Nations to justify its “lies” and misinformation on Jammu & Kashmir.
The Congress said using the name of Rahul Gandhi in the alleged petition moved by the Pakistani Government to United Nations is a mischievous act by Pakistan to justify the pack of lies and deliberate misinformation about India by the neighbouring country.
In a letter to the UN, Pakistan has quoted Rahul Gandhi saying “people are dying in Jammu & Kahsmir” and the situation was very bad there.
This prompted Union Minister Prakash Javadekar to say the Congress was doing the “most irresponsible politics ever” and favouring Pakistan.
The Congress hit back saying the BJP and its Government needed to introspect before they fall and lower its political stature. Both the BJP and the Congress demanded apologies from each other.
The grand old party demanded an apology from the ruling BJP for “doing cheap politics” on the issue.
Javadekar demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi and Congress while describing the former Congress chief’s remarks, in which he had spoken about reports of violence and death of people in Kashmir, as “most irresponsible politics” the country has witnessed. “He has made a complete U-turn not due to his own will but due to circumstances and public pressure,” Javadekar said.
Javadekar said the Gandhi scion’s allegations about violence in Kashmir were wrong and that it continues for the sake of “vote bank” politics. Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit back at Javadekar, dubbing him a “misinformation Minister” and one who has “lost his political balance”.
Taking a dig, Javadekar asked if Rahul Gandhi’s mindset has also changed due to change in his constituency. The Congress leader represents Wayanad, a minority dominated seat, in Lok Sabha after losing from his traditional Amethi seat to Smriti Irani.
Congress asserted that Rahul has said violence in Kashmir is instigated and supported by terror groups in Pakistan that thrive under the political and military patronage of the neighbouring country’s Government and Islamabad should be told to desist from supporting terror activities on Indian soil.
Rahul said that though he disagrees with the Government on many issues, he is clear that Kashmir is an internal issue and there is no room for Pakistan to interfere in it. “I disagree with this Government on many issues. But, let me make this absolutely clear: Kashmir is India’s internal issue and there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it,” he said on Twitter.
“There is violence in Jammu & Kashmir. There is violence because it is instigated and supported by Pakistan which is known to be the prime supporter of terrorism across the world,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi has been attacking the Government over the Kashmir situation and had said last week that the Opposition and the Press got a taste of the “draconian administration” and “brute force” unleashed on the people there when they tried to visit Srinagar.
In a statement, the Congress said Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions were and would always be an integral part of India, and it accused Pakistan of instigating violence in Jammu & Kashmir.
“We think the BJP and its Government need to introspect. How much will the BJP fall and lower its political stature? If they have a little realisation, they should come forward and apologise,” Surjewala said briefing the media.
“It is tragic that Prakash Javadekar is twisting a statement made by Rahul Gandhi, which reflects that the Indian National Congress and all other parties are united. We are in unison to take on the fake, false propaganda of Pakistan vis-Ã -vis the State of Jammu & Kashmir,” Surjewala said.