New Delhi:
The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday engaged in a war of words after British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted that he discussed human rights situation in Kashmir with "UK representatives from the Indian Congress Party". The BJP slammed the Congress over its "shameful shenanigans" and demanded an explanation after Corbyn's tweet.
The UK unit of the Indian Overseas Congress hit back at the BJP, claiming that it had met Corbyn to reiterate that Jammu and Kashmir is an "internal matter" and no intervention will be accepted.
"A very productive meeting with UK representatives from the Indian Congress Party where we discussed the human rights situation in Kashmir. There must be a de-escalation and an end to the cycle of violence and fear which has plagued the region for so long," Corbyn tweeted.
A very productive meeting with UK representatives from the Indian Congress Party where we discussed the human rights situation in Kashmir.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 9, 2019
There must be a de-escalation and an end to the cycle of violence and fear which has plagued the region for so long. pic.twitter.com/wn8DXLohJT
The Labour Party leader, whose stand on Kashmir has not gone down well with the Indian government, also tweeted a picture of the meeting. The picture included Kamal Dhaliwal, who heads the overseas Congress in the UK.
The BJP hit out at the Congress, which had not offered any comment as a row erupted following Corbyn's tweet.
"Appalling! @INCIndia owes it to the people of India to explain what its leaders are telling foreign leaders about India.
India will give a befitting reply to Congress for these shameful shenanigans!," the BJP tweeted.
Appalling! @INCIndia owes it to the people of India to explain what its leaders are telling foreign leaders about India.
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 10, 2019
India will give a befitting reply to Congress for these shameful shenanigans! https://t.co/Sb0MThF17A
Later, the Congress accused the BJP of making "malicious statements" to distract people from its failures. The UK unit of the Indian Overseas Congress claimed it had met Corbyn to condemn the Kashmir resolution passed by his party and reiterate to them that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and no intervention will be accepted.
"Our meeting with Jeremy Corbyn 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. BJP's malicious statements are another attempt to distract people from their failures," the Indian Overseas Congress said in a tweet.
Our meeting with @jeremycorbyn was held to condemn the Kashmir resolution passed by his Party & to reiterate that J&K is an internal matter & outside intervention will not be accepted. @BJP4India's malicious statements are another attempt to distract people from their failures.
— Indian Overseas Congress UK (@TeamIOCUK) October 10, 2019
The Congress also tweeted that the BJP has failed to answer questions on economic slowdown, unemployment and banking crisis and is resorting to spreading lies instead.
.@BJP4India has failed to answer a single question on the economic slowdown, rising unemployment, banking crisis & even the irregularities in the Rafale deal. Therefore they have to resort to spreading lies to evade the truth. They can't hide behind their propaganda anymore. https://t.co/oUyn55Kh26
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 10, 2019
"The BJP has failed to answer a single question on the economic slowdown, rising unemployment, banking crisis and even the irregularities in the Rafale deal. Therefore they have to resort to spreading lies to evade the truth. They can't hide behind their propaganda anymore," the Congress tweeted.
(With PTI inputs)
