Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Pakistan as being the “prime supporter of terrorism across the world” and cause of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rahul and the Congress, who have repeatedly criticised the Narendra Modi government's decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the state, had been criticised by the BJP as espousing Pakistan's line on Jammu and Kashmir. On August 24, Rahul was detained with 11 other opposition leaders when they had arrived in Srinagar to assess the situation since the abrogation of Article 370. Rahul had also expressed concern about reports of violence in Jammu and Kashmir over the Modi government's decisions.
On Wednesday, Rahul tweeted, “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.” He also reiterated the Congress stand that Jammu and Kashmir was an internal issue of India. Rahul tweeted, “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.”
The tweets by Rahul come after weeks of seemingly contradictory responses from the Congress on the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir. While some senior leaders including Rahul and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had criticised the decision to abrogate Article 370 as being arbitrary, other prominent figures such as Jyotiraditya Scindia had announced support for the Modi government's move.