‘Mischief, deliberate misinformation’, says Congress after Pakistan quotes Rahul Gandhi in letter to UN on Kashmir

The Congress’ reaction came on a letter Pakistan’s Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari wrote to 18 UN Special Procedures mandate-holders, quoting Rahul Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad to claim violation of human rights and unrest in Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.

New Delhi, August 28, 2019: Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala has slammed Pakistan for dragging Rahul Gandhi’s name in a petition it has filed addressing the United Nations regarding Jammu and Kashmir.

Surjewala said Rahul Gandhi’s name has been “mischievously dragged” by Pakistan to justify its stand on Jammu and Kashmir.

Also Read: Kashmir India’s internal issue, no room for Pakistan to intervene: Rahul Gandhi

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party had noticed “reports citing an alleged petition moved by the Pakistani government to United Nations on Jammu & Kashmir, wherein name of Shri Rahul Gandhi has been mischievously dragged to justify the pack of lies and deliberate misinformation being spread by Pakistan”.

“Let no one in the world be in doubt that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and shall always remain an integral part of India. No amount of diabolical deception by Pakistan shall change this irrevocable truth,” he said in a statement.

Surjewala said Pakistan should instead answer to the world about the “unpardonable and inhumane violations of human rights” in PoK-Gilgit-Hunza-Balochistan.

The neighbouring country also owed an explanation for the “designed persecution” of over seven crore Mohajirs (Muslim immigrants of multi-ethnic origin and their descendants, who migrated from various regions of India to Pakistan after the independence) and the killing of over 25,000 of them by its forces, he added.

Let no one in the world be in doubt that JK & Ladakh WERE-ARE-SHALL always remain an integral part of India.

No amount of diabolical deception by Pak shall change this truth.

Shri Rahul Gandhi has been mischievously dragged by Pak to justify their pack of lies.

Our statement: pic.twitter.com/SHFqFOt4FO

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 28, 2019

Let the world be reminded again that almost every terrorist organisation thrives in Pakistan under political and military patronage, be it Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, Al-Qaeda or Taliban and its multiple offshoots,” the Congress leader said.

“We urge that Pakistan should answer these issues, both internally to its people as also to the international community, instead of raising the fake Kashmir bogey,” he added.

In a letter to the UN, Pakistan has quoted former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on people dying in Jammu and Kahsmir. Pakistan’s human rights minister Shireen Mazari has written the letter to UN over the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have attacked Rahul Gandhi after the Pakistani letter to UN emerged. Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Rahul Gandhi’s immaturity has become a bane for the party.

Naqvi said, “Rahul gandhi ki nadaani Congress ki pareshani ban gayee hai (Rahul Gandhi’s immaturity has become a problem for Congress.)”

Joining Naqvi to attack Rahul Gandhi was Union minister Giriraj Singh, who said, “It’s like stealing a Band-Aid from the dispensary and sticking it on a gunshot wound.”

“After knocking on every door in the international community, Pakistan’s last resort is now to rely on Rahul Gandhi and Congress,” Giriraj Singh added.

-with PTI inputs