CONG ASKS BJP TO CLEAR STAND ON MUFTI’S ‘TALK TO PAK’ REMARK

NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday charged the central government with having a “non-existent” policy for Kashmir, and held the BJP-PDP alliance responsible for the “bloodshed” in the region.

He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “dithering” while Indian soldiers were getting killed in terror attacks.

“PDP says ‘talks’ with Pakistan. BJP Defence Minister says ‘Pakistan will pay the price’. While our soldiers pay with their blood for BJP/PDP’S opportunistic alliance and non-existent Kashmir policy; Modi Ji dithers,” he said on Twitter.

Gandhi’s remarks came in the wake of divergent statements by Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman regarding the stance against Pakistan following the recent attack on a military base in Jammu in which seven soldiers were killed.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari also asked the government to clarify its stand on Mufti’s statement.

“It is a very disturbing situation. On one hand, you have the PDP-BJP government which files FIR against an army Major. Then you have the BJP trying to shed crocodile tears and distance itself from that FIR,” he said.

“But the PDP-BJP government does nothing to withdraw that FIR and the father of the officer has to finally approach the Supreme Court to get an order that no coercive steps should be taken,” the leader said.

Tewari wondered if the backchannel with Pakistan was active. “The country does not want you to talk to Pakistan about terror; it wants you to act on the commitment that had made to the people of India.”

The BJP said talks were not suitable at a time when Pakistan was “supporting” militant attacks but could be considered if Islamabad “pulls back” from supporting subversive acts.