Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is also a former J&K Chief Minister, has slammed the US government’s reference to the State as ‘Indian-administered Kashmir’, calling it shocking and a compromise on India’s national security and sovereignty.
“Why has Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] not protested despite being on US soil?” he asked. “Why is the Foreign Minister, the Defence Minister and the Home Minister mum on the issue? Why is the BJP silent? Is it not a sell-out of national interests?” Azad said, addressing the media here on Wednesday.
He said the Prime Minister and the BJP preach ‘pseudo-nationalism’ every day. “Why have you accepted US phrase of ‘Indian Administrated J&K’? Jammu & Kashmir is and will always remain an integral part of India. We have given our sweat and blood and we will not let even a friendly country question it,” Azad said.
He said Modi and the BJP must answer the questions of the people on the issue. “Empty chest-thumping, false bravado and captive TV studio warfare by the Centre cannot hide its failures in compromising national security. Terrorism should never be politicised and a collective effort is needed to eradicate it, which should be sans partisan considerations,” Azad said.
On Monday, while designating Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, the US State Department said the militant group had claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the April 2014 explosives attack in “Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir”, which injured 17 people.