Already facing an implosion over party line regarding abrogation Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, the problems for Congress seem to keep adding on. A recent comment by Congress’ parliamentary party leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury are sure to further turn the heat on the already struggling party.
While speaking to ANI, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has compared the prevailing security restrictions in Kashmir in wake of thee legislative developments to that of a concentration camp and said “PM had announced from Red Fort that we’ll take Kashmiris forward not with bullets but by embracing them, but today, the situation in Kashmir is similar to that of a concentration camp.”
#WATCH Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, Congress leader in Lok Sabha: PM had announced from Red Fort that we'll take Kashmiris forward not with bullets but by embracing them, but today, the situation in Kashmir is similar to that of a concentration camp. pic.twitter.com/jzGnZ6sSWy
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2019
By comparing security preparations by the security forces to that of a concentration Camp, Congress leader has not only shamefully maligned India’s efforts to maintain peace in the terror infested valley but has also denigrated Indian security forces my making parallels with the Nazi German army which massacred primarily the Jews in concentration camps.
However, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is no alien to sparking controversies and increasing problems for the grand old party. In the discussions regarding legislative developments in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress leader’s comments had also seemingly worried Sonia Gandhi when he took a near anti-India line in the Lok Sabha. Questioning India’s sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir he had said “Our question is how this can be considered as an internal matter? Some days ago, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar spoke to (US secretary of state Mike) Pompeo and then too it was said that this was a bilateral issue. We need to resolve this. You will have to clarify on this. Whether it is internal, bilateral and whether you can do it on your own or not.”
To this remark by the Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Union Minister Amit Shah had firmly replied and said “Kashmir is an integral part of India, there is no doubt over it. When I talk about Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin are included in it. You don’t consider Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India? What are you saying? We can die for it,”
More than the response of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the reaction of Sonia Gandhi caught people’s attention. It seemed as if Sonia Gandhi has been caught completely off-guard and was alarmed by the remarks made on Kashmir by the Congress leader in Lok Sabha. And this, also precisely, demonstrates the leadership crisis in Congress and how it is undermining the party’s stance on issues leading to confusion.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury does not understand the repercussions such grossly irresponsible statements on Kashmir can have. Far from saying the truth, the Congress leader has been using the talking points of Pakistani leaders, playing into their hands in a worrisome manner, against the interest of the nation. Earlier Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was also under fire for comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ‘gandi naali’ (dirty drain). He had mentioned, “Kahan Maa Ganga aur Kahan Gandi Naali” (How can Mother Ganga be compared with a dirty drain, basically comparing Indira Gandhi’s legacy with that of Narendra Modi).
With central leadership in tatters, comments by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and many other Congress leaders just substantiate the major ideological vacuum in the grand old party and also deeper issues regarding the party taking a near pro-Pakistan stance on many crucial issues of national interest also are sure to raise alarms.
