Ever since the Narendra Modi government amended Article 370 and re-organised the state as union territories, two entities have been the most affected negatively by the decision. First is Pakistan and the second are the Indian liberals led by the Indian National Congress! If the recent public utterances and speeches by its leaders are any indicators of their stance, Congress is simply towing the Pakistani line over Jammu & Kashmir.
Starting from its former ‘ever reluctant’ President Rahul Gandhi to its ‘damager-in-chief’ Mani Shankar Aiyar, in a bid to oppose Modi government seem to have struck at their own feet. Members irrespective of party affiliations came forward and voted for the resolution on Article 370 and for re-organisation of Jammu and Kashmir. Several Congress leaders themselves have publicly supported the government move and intent to resolve the issues facing the state. But it seems that the Congress which has lost touch with the sentiments of the people of the country has chosen to continue to walk on the path of self-destruction.
Some gems from Congress leaders that has made Pakistan happy:
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Cong chief whip in Lok Sabha – “You (government) say that it is an internal matter. But it is being monitored since 1948 by the UN. Is that an internal matter? We signed Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration. Was that an internal matter or bilateral?”
Ghulam Nabi Azad in Lok Sabha – “The entire Valley is under curfew…. There is a war-like situation in the state. So this should be discussed on priority”.
Kapil Sibal in Rajya Sabha – “Sardar Patel sahab was the home minister then. He brought Article 370. At that time, it was discussed that Sardar Patel was ready to give Kashmir to Pakistan.”
Rahul Gandhi to media – “Things are going very wrong there (Jammu & Kashmir). There are reports of violence, of people dying.”
Soon after his statement that was used by Pakistan to further its anti-India agenda, the J&K police put out a statement asking people to not believe “fabricated and motivated” news.
Adhir Ranjan to ANI – “PM had announced from Red Fort that we’ll take Kashmiris forward not with bullets but by embracing them, but today situation in Kashmir is similar to that of a concentration camp. No mobile/internet connection, no Amarnath pilgrimage, what’s happening there?”
Ghulam Nabi Azad to media – “We have a long border with China, we have a border with Pakistan and with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir… to play around with border state, it is being a traitor to the country”.
Ghulam Nabi Azad on Ajit Doval’s outreach in Kashmir -“Paise dekar aap kisiko bhi saath le sakte ho (You can have anyone back you by hiring them for money).”
After these anti-National statements by Congress leaders, it was as though the old-timers felt left out. Soon came statements from a former finance minister and another leaders who was Rahul’s mentor.
P Chidambaram at an event in Chennai – “If J&K was a Hindu-dominated state, the BJP would not not have done this. They did it only because the region is dominated by Muslims”.
‘Pak favorite’ Mani Shankar Aiyar in an article in Indian Express – “Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have just created a Palestine on our northern border.”
Mani Shankar Aiyer in the same article – “They have learned how to trample on the freedom, dignity and self-respect of the Kashmiris”
It is an irony that the leaders of the same Congress party had in 1964 supported the abrogation of Article 370. On September 11, 1964, Prakash Vir Shastri had brought a private member’s bill to amend the Constitution for abrogation of Article 370. 7 Congress MPs participated in the debate over the bill and all of them had supported the removal of Article 370 and urged the then government to pass the bill or assure the House that it would be done in a time-bound manner.
The Congress under Sonia and Rahul has taken a anti-India stand on almost every issue from surgical strikes to Article 370. After these gems from Congress leaders, many netizens are wondering why did the party leave Sam ‘Hua to Hua’ Pitroda behind. Maybe he is planning for the final rites with a statement that will exceed the brilliance of all others. Pakistan is waiting too.
