BJP, Cong in war of words over Corbyn’s Kashmir remarks

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 10

Embarrassed over a tweet by UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who said he discussed human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir with UK representatives of the Indian National Congress, the Congress today officially distanced itself from the matter saying they would write to Corbyn to convey the party’s official line on J&K.

“We disown any statement on J&K made by anyone abroad. No one expects the Congress here is authorised to comment on policy matters and the Congress position on J&K is clearly articulated in a Congress Working Committee resolution. No other entity abroad is authorised to speak on policy matters on behalf of the Congress. I will write to Corbyn and Labour Party’s foreign affairs cell leader to clarify Congress position on J&K which is an internal matter of India,” Congress foreign affairs cell chairman Anand Sharma said after the BJP attacked the Congress following the news that the Kamal Dhaliwal-led Indian Overseas Congress UK delegation met Corbyn and discussed J&K.

Meanwhile, Dhaliwal’s images with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi offering him sweets and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur standing in the backdrop went viral on the social media. As a political controversy broke out here on the eve of Haryana and Maharashtra elections, Indian Overseas Congress UK later clarified they had met Corbyn to condemn the Labour Party Resolution on J&K.

“Our meeting with @jeremycorbyn was held to condemn the Kashmir resolution passed by his party and to reiterate that J&K is an internal matter and outside intervention will not be accepted. @BJP4India’s malicious statements are another attempt to distract people from their failures,” IOC UK branch tweeted today as the BJP attacked Congress for raising “human rights in J&K with foreign leaders”.