Congress slams Pak for quoting RaGa to propel own narrative

New Delhi:The Congress on Wednesday, hit out at Pakistan for 'quoting' Rahul Gandhi in its petition to United Nations over Jammu and Kashmir issue and said they "mischievously dragged (Mr Gandhi) to justify the pack of lies and deliberate misinformation being spread by Pakistan"

"INC has noticed reports citing an alleged petition moved by Pakistani Government to United Nations on Jammu and Kashmir, wherein name of Rahul Gandhi has been mischievously dragged to justify the pack of lies and deliberate misinformation being spread by Pakistan", said a statement issued by AICC communication in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The party said that "no one in the world be in doubt that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and shall always remain an integral part of India" and added that "no amount of diabolical deception by Pakistan shall change this irrevocable truth".

"Instead, Pakistan should answer to the world about unpardonable and inhumane violations of human rights in POK-Gilgit-Hunza-Baltistan. Pakistan also owes an explanation for designed persecution of over 70 million Mohajirs and killing of over 25,000 by Pakistani Forces", he added. 

Furthering his attack, Mr Surjewala said that human rights violations in Balochistan, including thousands, who have gone missing as also mass graves being uncovered by different agencies have never been answered. 

"The entire world witnessed the horrific murder of 128 innocents on July 13, 2018 during an election rally by Balochistan Awami Movement. The gross abuse of human rights of Pashtun people in the tribal regions by Pakistani Army as also the systematic persecution and prosecution of Ahmadiyya religious community is yet to be answered by Pakistan", he charged. 

Taking on Pakistan Government, the Congress spokesperson said that "let the world be reminded again that almost every terrorist organisation thrives in Pakistan under political and military patronage ? be it Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Hizbul Mujahedeen, Al-Queda or Taliban and its multiple offshoots". 

He said that, Pakistan should answer these issues, both internally to its people as also to international community, instead of raising the fake Kashmir bogey.Earlier, Mr Gandhi had slammed Pakistan after the neighbouring country quoted his visit to Srinagar in its letter to UN, and said, Kashmir is India's internal issue and there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it.

In a series of tweets, Ms Gandhi said, ''I disagree with this Government 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.''

Blaming  Pakistan for instigating violence in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress leader said, ''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.''

The statement by Mr Gandhi and Congress party comes a day after Pakistan wrote to the United Nations over the Kashmir issue. It claimed human rights violations in the region, a charge which has been rejected several times by India. 

Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari, who wrote the letter, mentioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claiming that he noted "people dying" in Jammu and Kashmir. 

''Acts of violence have been acknowledged by mainstream politicians, such as the leader of the Congress party, Mr Rahul Gandhi who has noted "people dying" in Jammu and Kashmir, in light of events "going very wrong there,"the letter said.(UNI)