india

Updated: Aug 28, 2019 10:47 IST

In a clear message that the country was united in its stand on Kashmir, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that there is no scope for any foreign country to interfere in it and called Pakistan the ‘prime supporter of terror’.

The statement comes amid media reports that Pakistan had moved a petition in United Nations on Jammu & Kashmir mentioning the Congress leader’s purported quote on the situation in the state.

“I disagree with this Govt. on many issues. But, let me make this absolutely clear: Kashmir is India’s internal issue & there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it,“ Gandhi tweeted on Wednesday.

There is violence in Jammu & Kashmir because it is instigated and supported by Pakistan which is known to be the ‘prime supporter of terrorism across the world’, the Congress leader added.

The Congress, backing Gandhi’s remarks, added: “The INC has noticed reports citing an alleged petition moved by 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.”

The statement added: “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.”

The party asked Pakistan to instead answer the world about unpardonable and inhumane violations of human rights in PoK-Gilgit-Hunza-Baltistan. “Pakistan also owes an explanation for designed persecution of over 70 million Mohajirs and killing of over 25,000 by Pakistani Forces,” the statement said.

Stressing that Pakistan was the fountainhead of terrorism, the party said that every terrorist organisation thrives in Pakistan under political and military patronage -- be it Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Hizbul Mujahedeen, Al-Queda or Taliban and its multiple offshoots.

Pakistan has been trying to muster international support on its Kashmir narrative, after the Modi government scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, but with limited support. The new petition in UN is a fresh attempt to rake up the issue.