Union Minister Ananth Kumar flays Digvijay for supporting Amnesty

Amnesty is facing sedition charges over alleged raising of anti-India slogans by its members

Union Minister Ananth Kumar has criticised Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh for "supporting" a human rights organisation.

Kumar did not name the organisation, however it was a veiled reference to Amnesty International, whose Indian chapter is facing sedition charges over alleged raising of anti-India slogans by its members during an event on Kashmir held in Bengaluru last week, a charge denied by the Nobel Peace Prize winning human rights body.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is enhancing spirit of patriotism through Tiranga Yatra. On the other hand, Digvijay Singh was supporting an organisation which was a Pakistani supporter," Kumar said.

He was addressing a gathering yesterday at Barbai near here, the native village of freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil, as part of the Tiranga Yatra.

"This organisation was involved in sloganeering against Indian jawans...Raised slogans for the country's destruction," the Chemical and Fertiliser Minister added.

He said Singh had tweeted to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asking him not to take any action against this organisation.

"This can't be tolerated at any cost," he said.

Kumar said, "Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir will be retaken.