Congress did not support Khurshid’s remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reference to Balochistan in his Independence Day address, terming it as “his personal view”.
However Congress asked the government to raise the issue of alleged atrocities in Balochistan and PoK in bilaterals with Pakistan as also at international forums.
“Congress does not subsribe to the statement of Salman Khurshid who is a senior leader. He can have his own opinion.”
“All such issues need to be raised and need to be sorted out. We suport the government. However what is Modi going to do for taking up these issues on a bilateral forum with Pakistan so that suppression of democratic dissent in Balochistan and PoK come to end and what he and his government are going to do about raising these issues on international forums,” the head of Congress’ communication department Randeep Surjewala said.
Surjewala said Pakistan had attacked and occupied a part of Jammu and Kashmir which was integral to India. “This issue needs to be sorted out and it can only be sorted out in favour of India,” he said.
The PDP-BJP government’s “lopsided policies and blind lust for power” were responsible for the situation in Kashmir, he alleged.
(inputs from PTI)