New Delhi: The Congress slammed Pakistan on Wednesday for “mischievously” dragging party leader Rahul Gandhi’s name in a petition reportedly moved in the United Nations to justify its “lies” and misinformation on Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement, the opposition party said Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were and would always be an integral part of India as it accused Pakistan of instigating violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Gandhi said Jammu and Kashmir was India’s internal matter and there was no room for Pakistan or any other country to intervene.
He also accused Pakistan of instigating and supporting violence in Jammu and Kashmir and said the neighbouring country was known to be “the prime supporter of terrorism across the world”.
The Congress leader said this was despite the fact that he disagreed with the BJP-led government on many issues.
“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 in a tweet.
“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,” Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
Also read: Pakistan’s ruling party PTI tweets old Kashmir video, claims violence over Article 370
Congress’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party had noticed “reports citing an alleged petition moved by Pakistani Government to United Nations on Jammu & Kashmir, wherein name of Shri Rahul Gandhi has been mischievously dragged to justify the pack of lies and deliberate misinformation being spread by Pakistan”.
“Let no one in the world be in doubt that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and shall always remain an integral part of India. No amount of diabolical deception by Pakistan shall change this irrevocable truth,” he said in a statement.
Surjewala said Pakistan should instead answer to the world about the “unpardonable and inhumane violations of human rights” in PoK-Gilgit-Hunza-Balochistan.
The neighbouring country also owed an explanation for the “designed persecution” of over seven crore Mohajirs (Muslim immigrants of multi-ethnic origin and their descendants, who migrated from various regions of India to Pakistan after the independence of Pakistan) and the killing of over 25,000 of them by its forces, he added.
The Congress leader said besides the instances of human rights violations in Balochistan, thousands had gone missing and mass graves were being uncovered by different agencies.
“The entire world witnessed the horrific murder of 128 innocents on 13th July, 2018 during an election rally by Balochistan Awami Movement. The gross abuse of human rights of Pashtun people in the tribal regions by Pakistani Army as also the systematic persecution and prosecution of Ahmadiyya Religious community is yet to be answered by Pakistan,” he said.
Let the world be reminded again that almost every terrorist organisation thrives in Pakistan under political and military patronage be it Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, Al-Qaeda or Taliban and its multiple offshoots,” the Congress leader said.
“We urge that Pakistan should answer these issues, both internally to its people as also to the international community, instead of raising the fake Kashmir bogey,” he added.
Also read: Opposition leaders plan to visit Jammu & Kashmir, Rahul Gandhi likely to join
Congress should be happy because at least Pakistan see some utility of Rahul Gandhi. In India there in non other than Italian dogs.
How can he travel on this visa? If it was issued on 27 Feb 2009 for 10 years then it would have been expired in 2019 already
You put your whole foot in the mouth with ludicurous statements and Pakistan will do what Pakistan has always done…use whatever means they could to further their views. Congress Leader of Opposition, started by making outlandish position on Kashmir, which was totally in contrast to what India has always claimed (irrespective of the party in power)_ This was closely followed by politicising an issue, where India should have stood as one. We want a strong opposition, which keeps the Government on the track of delivering positive results to the public. Unfortunately, we have a Government which has absolutely no opposition of any merit and on top of it, we’ve a very biased and unqualified media, which is more keen on pushing their agenda.