Congress Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury kicked up a storm in the Assembly today by questioning the government whether Article 370 and the state of Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter. He questioned how can matters related to Jammu and Kashmir be ‘internal matter’ if it is being monitored by the UN since 1948.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress, in Lok Sabha: S Jaishankar told Mike Pompeo a few days before that Kashmir is a bilateral matter, so don’t interfere in it. Can J&K still be an internal matter? We want to know. Entire Congress party wants to be enlightened by you. https://t.co/76se7Rb3QS
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2019
“We signed Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration, was that an internal matter or bilateral?” he asked. He even added how External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar had told his US counterpart last week that Kashmir matter is a bilateral matter. He sought ‘clarification’ whether Kashmir is an internal matter or a bilateral matter with Pakistan.
Kashmir is UN monitored? Shameful statement by Congress’s leader of Opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhry. We as Indians reject Congress’s stand like we have rejected them electorally. pic.twitter.com/yAAr2rijD4
— अंकित जैन (@indiantweeter) August 6, 2019
This statement from Congress leader is shocking to say the least. Congress is speaking the language of Pakistan which has maintained that Kashmir is part of their territory. India has always maintained that the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has always been part of India in its entirety. Pakistan has always tried to internernationalise the matter by involving the UN while India has always maintained that Kashmir is an integral part of India and Pakistan has no claim on it. This statement by Chowdhury parrots the line used by Pakistan.
The only matter which is ‘bilateral’ with Pakistan is the disputed region which is illegally occupied by Pakistan. There, too, India maintains that that portion is a part of India.
Home Minister Amit Shah shut him up and said that when he talks about Jammu and Kashmir, he talks about the state in its entirety. He added that when he speaks of Jammu and Kashmir, he also includes Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin, the disputed border region between India and China.
This is not the first time Congress and the party leaders have spoken in Pakistan’s tune. Following the Balakot airstrikes after the Pulwama terror attack, Pakistan’s FM uses Congress’ rants to discredit government of India and the Indian Army. Prior to that Pakistan had used Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s tweets demanding proofs of airstrikes to target India.
With Congress questioning whether Jammu and Kashmir matter is internal or bilateral, Congress is playing into Pakistan’s agenda which has maintained that Kashmir is not a part of India.
