Rahul Gandhi does firefighting.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday issued clarification regarding his stance about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Gandhi said that Jammu and Kashmir is India's integral matter and no one including Pakistan has any right to infringe upon it. He also said that the violence in Kashmir is due to instigation and support from Pakistan.
Rahul Gandhi had to give this hurried clarification after social media was abuzz with Pakistan using his words in letter to 18 UN Special Procedures mandate-holders on what Islamabad claims to be human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress party too swung into action and chief spokesperson said: "We've noticed reports citing an alleged petition moved by Pakistani Govt in United Nations on J&K, wherein the name of Rahul Gandhi has been mischievously dragged to justify the pack of lies & deliberate misinformation being spread by Pakistan."
He further said, " 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"
1. Rahul Gandhi's clarification
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I disagree with this Govt. on many issues. But, let me make this absolutely clear: Kashmir is India’s internal issue & there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 28, 2019
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.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 28, 2019
Rahul Gandhi said, " I disagree with this Govt. on many issues. But, let me make this absolutely clear: Kashmir is India’s internal issue & there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it.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."
2. Pak letter to UN quotes Rahul Gandhi
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Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari wrote a letter where Rahul Gandhi has been mentioned
My detailed letter to 18 UN Special Procedures mandate-holders on violations of international human rights law by the Government of India in IOK. pic.twitter.com/kWyuop6pS1
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) August 27, 2019
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) August 27, 2019
Here's the line quoting Rahul Gandhi:
These, and other, acts of violence have even been acknowledged by mainstream politicians, such as the leader of Congress party, Mr Rahul Gandhi who has noted "people dying" in Jammu and Kashmir, in light of events "going very wrong there"
It also mentions Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mehbooba Mufti's statements about Jammu and Kashmir. The letter reads: While the violations discussed above represent only a fraction of the total horrifying violations being committed by the State of India against the Kashmir people, they are an apt illustration of the intensity of the conflict and gravity of rights violations currently on-going in the region. Recently, Rahul Gandhi, President of the Congress party, and several other Indian opposition leaders were forcibly returned from Srinagar Airport to New Delhi.
This further nullifies claims by the Indian Government that the situation is "normal". In this regard, it is worth mentioning here the statement by senior Congress party leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad: "If the situation is normal, then why is the government restricting us from entering the Valley? On the one hand, the government says that things are normal and on the other, they impose entry restrictions. Why so many contradictions?"
3. What did Rahul Gandhi tweet after being sent back from Srinagar
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It's been 20 days since the people of Jammu & Kashmir had their freedom & civil liberties curtailed. Leaders of the Opposition & the Press got a taste of the draconian administration & brute force unleashed on the people of J&K when we tried to visit Srinagar yesterday. pic.twitter.com/PLwakJM5W5
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 25, 2019
He tweeted:
It's been 20 days since the people of Jammu & Kashmir had their freedom & civil liberties curtailed. Leaders of the Opposition & the Press got a taste of the draconian administration & brute force unleashed on the people of J&K when we tried to visit Srinagar yesterday.
4. Not the first time
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Even in the post Pulwama tension phase during the Balakot attack, Rahul Gandhi's words were reportedly highlighted prominently by Radio Pakistan and other Pakistani government mouthpieces for anti-India propaganda. In fact, many believe Congress stance post Balakot was one big reason for party's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. So perhaps learning from past, Rahul Gandhi and Congress gave a hurried statement about what they believe is malicious use of what was said.
