Cong questions PM’s silence on ‘India-administered J&K’

The Asian Age.

India, All India

The party also questioned Mr Modi’s silence on the issue that emerged at a time when he was in the US and was to meet US President Donald Trump.

Congress party leader P. Chidambaram (Photo: AP)

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Central government for compromising with national security by not objecting to the mention of “Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’ in the US order on Syed Salahuddin.

Emphasising that such an order came when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting the United States, former Union minister P. Chidambaram asked how New Delhi accepted it.

“US’ official statement used the phrase ‘Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’. How did India accept this?” the Congress leader asked in a tweet.

The party also questioned Mr Modi’s silence on the issue that emerged at a time when he was in the US and was to meet US President Donald Trump.

“Shocking that the US government order on Syed Salahuddin refers to ‘Indian-administered J&K. This is a compromise with India’s national security and sovereignty. Why has the Prime Minister not protested despite being on US soil? Why are the foreign minister, defence minister and home minister of India and information and broadcasting minister keeping mum on the issue? Why is BJP silent? Is it not a sell-out of national interests,” party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

“Empty chest-thumping, false bravado and captive TV studio warfare” will not be able to wipe off the failures of the government, he added.

Mr Azad reiterated that the Congress has always maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. He also said that terrorism should never be politicised and a collective effort is needed to eradicate it. In the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Congress will raise the issue and will also try to rope in other Opposition parties.

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