Going into damage control mode, former Congress president and senior leader Rahul Gandhi has finally recognized Jammu and Kashmir to be India’s internal issue. In a series of tweets Rahul Gandhi has 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.”
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’s comments have surfaced in the backdrop of Pakistan using earlier remarks made by him against centre’s move to abrogate Article 370, to forward their anti India agenda at United Nations. Pakistan in a petition addressing the United Nations regarding Jammu and Kashmir used the name of Rahul Gandhi. Pakistani minister for human rights, Shireen Mazari, said she wrote a letter to 18 UN Special Procedures mandate-holders. In the letter, Mazari has claimed that even Rahul had noted that people are dying in Kashmir.
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
Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have been under fire for making such misleading statements which are then being used by the propaganda machinery of the Pakistani military to aid their anti-India rhetoric.
These comments coming from Rahul Gandhi surely indicate towards a possible change of stand, however superficial, of Congress on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Nonetheless, these comments coming more than 20 days after Pakistan had accelerated its misinformation campaign are not only lacking firm conviction but also reek of covert attempts to save the fast receding political ground for Congress. Over the past few weeks, Pakistan has been using such loose and vacuous comments made by some select politicians to further ignite violence in Kashmir. Moreover several reports surfacing regarding the same have been ignored by these select politicians and they have continued with their loose remarks, ultimately giving fodder to the Pakistani propaganda machinery.
Furthermore Rahul Gandhi’s recent attempt to visit Jammu and Kashmir also had similar overtones of reluctance and half-heartedness. Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Kashmir came around twenty days after the Parliament moved ahead and abrogated several discriminatory provisions of Article 370, what unfolded during this ‘tour’ which many have alleged to be purely a political spectacle was nothing more than a well planned trip to the Srinagar Airport along with some onboard interactions with the media and the passengers. While the intensity by which Congress party had opposed the legislative developments in Jammu and Kashmir, so much so that the Parliamentary leader of the party had even questioned India’s sovereignty over the region, Rahul Gandhi’s conduct not only lacked the intensity which the party had projected in the parliament and outside around Delhi but also reeked of ulterior motives.
Nonetheless, looking at the track record of Rahul Gandhi and his weak stand on several issues whether it be identification of illegal immigrants or the debate surrounding Article 370, his comments are poised to carry proportional weight. Moreover coming in the picture weeks after Pakistan has been spewing venomous propaganda against India is evidently a meek attempt to save face as Pakistan continues to use remarks made by him for its anti-India. Along with Rahul Gandhi, Pakistan has also used comments made by Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdulla in their yet another stunt at the United Nations.
