Has Rahul's Mindset Changed after He Switched His Constituency to Wayanad: BJP over J&K Remarks

New Delhi: Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir situation, the BJP on Wednesday said he has "insulted" the country and given Pakistan a "handle" to target India in the United Nations.

Taking a dig, senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar asked if Gandhi's mindset has also changed after a change in his Lok Sabha constituency. Gandhi currently represents Wayanad, a minority dominated seat, in Lok Sabha after losing from his traditional Amethi seat in Uttar Pradesh.

Javadekar also demanded an apology from Gandhi and the main opposition party, describing the former Congress chief's remarks, in which he had spoken about reports of violence and death of people in Kashmir, as "most irresponsible politics" the country has witnessed.

Gandhi's tweets on Wednesday, attacking Pakistan and asserting that Kashmir is India's internal issue, were made due to public anger over his earlier comments, he said.

"He has made a complete U-turn not due to his own will but due to circumstances and public pressure," Javadekar said.

The Congress leader's allegations about violence in Kashmir were wrong, Javadekar said, adding that it was made due to that party's "vote bank" politics.

Gandhi has been attacking the government over the Kashmir situation and had said last week that the opposition and the press got a taste of the "draconian administration" and "brute force" unleashed on the people there when they tried to visit Srinagar.

However on Wednesday, he said in a tweet that Kashmir is India's internal issue and slammed Pakistan for instigating and supporting violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

Prodded on his comments by reporters, Javadekar said his remarks were not about the constituency but its representative.

Congress reacts

Meanwhile, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit back at Javadekar, dubbing him a "misinformation minister" and one who has "lost his political balance".

"We think the BJP and its government need to introspect. How much will the BJP fall and lower its political stature? If they have a little realisation, they should come forward and apologise," he said.

Surjewala accused Javadekar of trying to politicise a stand unitedly taken "for India, by Indians and in favour of the entire country in front of the world community".

"It is tragic that Prakash Javadekar is twisting a statement made by Rahul Gandhi, which reflects that the Indian National Congress and all other parties are united. We are in unison to take on the fake, false propaganda of Pakistan vis--vis the state of Jammu and Kashmir," Surjewala said.

"We warn Pakistan and urge it that instead of ever questioning the status of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, they need to answer and set their own house in order. They need to answer vis--vis human rights violations," he said.

The Congress spokesperson asserted that Gandhi has said violence in Kashmir is instigated and supported by terror groups in Pakistan that thrive under the political and military patronage of the neighbouring country's government and Islamabad should be told to desist from supporting terror activities on Indian soil.

(With inputs from PTI)