Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad takes a dig at Doval over Shopian photos, BJP hits back

Referring to the photos of NSA Ajit Doval meeting with locals in Shopian, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said anybody could be swayed with money.

NSA Ajit Doval interacting with locals in Shopian | ANI Photo

New Delhi: Reacting to pictures and videos of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s interaction with locals in Kahsmir’s Shopian district, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said “anyone can be brought along with money”.

NSA Doval on Wednesday undertook a whirlwind visit to the militancy-infested south Kashmir and was seen eating food on a footpath outside closed shops and talking to locals. The pictures and videos went viral on social media.

“Paise dekar aap kisiko bhi saath le sakte ho (Anyone can be brought along with money),” Azad said when asked about Doval’s visit.

Doval arrived in Kashmir on Tuesday, a day after the Centre revoked the provisions of Article 370, which gave special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir. He is reaching out to the local population in the Valley as a confidence building measure (CMB).

BJP responds

The BJP hit back at Azad and demanded his apology, saying that the remarks could be used by Pakistan on global forums.

Terming the comment “unfortunate”, BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said that such remarks were expected from the “people of Pakistan” and not from India’s “biggest political party”.

“Ghulam Nabi Azad’s comments are unfortunate. I condemn it strongly….when the NSA visits the state and meets and eats with the people of the area, the Congress says that we have paid them money?

“These accusations come from the people of Pakistan. This is not expected from a big political party like the Congress. How can you make these accusations? This statement will be used by Pakistan on global forums. He should immediately apologise for the comments,” Hussain told a news channel.