Why did PM not protest over 'Indian-administered J&K' while in US, asks Congress

The Congress party on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for their silence over use of the phrase 'Indian-administered Kashmir' in a US government order, and asked whether it was a "selling out of national interests".

The party also demanded a response from Modi for not protesting despite his being in the US.

"I would like to make it clear that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part, was an integral part, shall remain an integral part of India," Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a press conference.

"For Modiji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi), and his party, this can be a subject of political expediency to keep silent... Indian National Congress and other nationalist parties and secular parties will never remain silent," Azad said.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said that allowing of the phrase meant a "compromise with India's national security and sovereignty" and asked the Centre whether it was a "selling out of national interests".

Similar objections were raised by party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Tuesday, when in a series of tweets he accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of "pseudo nationalism" for the government not objecting to the phrase.

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram also disapproved of the Indian government's lack of response.

"US' official statement used the phrase 'Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir'. How did India accept this?" he said in a tweet.

The phrase was used in a US government order designating Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist, ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump.

-- IANS

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