Row after UK’s Corbyn meets Cong delegation

LONDON/NEWDELHI:The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday attacked the Congress over its “shameful shenanigans” after Britain’s Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said he met the representatives of the Indian opposition party and discussed the human rights situation in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).

“A very productive meeting with UK representatives from the Indian Congress Party where we discussed the human rights situation in Kashmir. There must be a de-escalation and an end to the cycle of violence and fear which has plagued the region for so long,” Corbyn tweeted along with his photo with the members of the UK unit of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC).

The BJP sought an explanation from the Congress over the meeting. “Appalling! @INCIndia owes it to the people of India to explain what its leaders are telling foreign leaders about India. India will give a befitting reply to Congress for these shameful shenanigans!”

The IOC said its representatives met Corbyn to condemn the Kashmir resolution the Labour Party passed on September 26 and to reiterate that J&K is India’s internal matter. “BJP’s malicious statements are another attempt to distract people from their failures,” the IOC tweeted.

Congress leader Anand Sharma said the IOC delegation did not have the mandate to discuss the Kashmir situation. “We are shocked by this misrepresentation and any unauthorised statement that has been made on behalf of the Congress...,” he said.

The IOC’s UK unit condemned Corbyn’s version, calling it a “twisted” account. HTC