In a sharp attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Opposition party of supporting separatist voices in Jammu and Kashmir and called it an “insult” to the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers in the Valley.
Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at the HAL Airport premises in Bengaluru, the Prime Minister asked, “Why are Congress leaders lending their voice to those who want azadi in Kashmir? This is an insult to our brave soldiers.” Mr. Modi also accused the Congress of taking a U-turn and lending its voice for the support of “Kashmiri azadi,” a language spoken by Pakistan.
“Yesterday's [Saturday] statement of a Congress leader on Kashmir clearly shows how the party feels on surgical strikes and bravery of our Army,” Mr. Modi said.
Tacit allusion to PC
Though the Prime Minister did not name any individual Congress leader, it was obvious that his comments were in response to a statement by former Home Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidamabram backing the demand for greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.
Accusing the Congress leaders of practising double standards, Mr. Modi said, “People, who were in power yesterday, those people are taking complete U-turn. Shamelessly making these statements.”
Mr. Modi also asked, “What are these, who politicise the sacrifices of soldiers? Can these people do good for the country?”
'PM imagining a ghost'
Responding to the Prime Minister's comments, Mr. Chidambaram said, “It is obvious the Prime Minister has not read the whole answer to the question put to me on J&K."
He accused Mr. Modi of “imagining a ghost and attacking it.”
"Neither the Congress nor I criticised the 'surgical strikes.' We pointed out that these were cross-border actions and such actions have been done in the past as well," he added.
