The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, 22 June, slammed veteran Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Saifuddin Soz for their statements related to the Jammu and Kashmir issue and demanded that Congress President Rahul Gandhi respond to them immediately. The BJP called their statements “irresponsible, shameful and deeply regrettable”.
Former J&K Chief Minister Azad, in an interview to a TV channel, reportedly said that the Centre has “taken more action against civilians than terrorists.”
Azad said BJP's language of “all-out operations” in J&K indicated that a "massacre" was being planned.
Former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz said former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was right that Kashmiris wanted independence over joining Pakistan, reported ANI.
During a press conference on Friday, Union Minister for Information and Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad, called Azad’s statement “irresponsible, shameful and deeply regrettable”. He demanded that the Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi respond to the statement and clarify whether they are ready to take action against Azad.
He said that Azad’s statement was demeaning to the Army and the security forces who sacrifice their lives for the country.
Pointing at Lashkar-e-Taiba’s statement reportedly agreeing with Azad’s line of thought, Prasad said:
Alleging that the Congress under Rahul Gandhi would do anything for votes, he added that the ideologies of the party had worsened after the Gandhi scion took over.
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