Why did PM not protest use of 'India-administered J&K' by US, asks Congress

The Congress on Wednesday accused the government of compromising with national security and sovereignty by not objecting to the mention of 'Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir' in the United States order on Syed Salahuddin.

The party also questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue that emerged at a time when he was in the US and was to meet US President Donald Trump.

It further demanded the prime minister's response on China stopping Mansarovar Yatra and its incursion into Indian territory in Sikkim.

"Shocking that the US government order on Syed Salahuddin refers to 'Indian-administered J&K. This is a compromise with India's national security and sovereignty," senior Congress spokesperson and party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

"Why has the prime minister not protested despite being on US soil? Why the foreign minister, defence minister, home minister and for that matter, our I&B minister, none of these ministers have issued a single statement of apology or the protest?

"Why is the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), so-called nationalist party -- the only nationalist party of India who is holding the sole agency of nationalism of our country, silent on this? Is it not a total sell-out of national interest by the so-called nationalist party?" he said.

The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so, even though it may be a subject of political expediency for Modi and his party to keep silent but Congress will not.

He demanded that prime minister and ruling party should answer to the nation for this absolutely unacceptable act of usage of such terminology.

"Modi ji and BJP drum beat and preach pseudo-Nationalism every day. The country would expect them to answer why have they, why has this Government accepted US phrase of 'Indian Administered Jammu and Kashmir'," he said.

Azad also lamented that no media house has written about or telecast this issue and committing such an act would have been unpardonable for the United Progressive Alliance or any other government.

"We have seen in the past that even on minor mistakes, which have taken place, how the BJP, the BJP leadership and the media -- both print and electronic -- have torn the government to pieces.

"But when it comes to the gross violation and the mistakes being committed by this present government and by no less than the prime minister of India himself, no media house has guts to point out and bring this to the notice of the government of India," he said.

Azad also said that 'empty chest-thumping, false bravado and captive TV studio warfare' by the BJP government cannot hide its failures in compromising with national security.

He said terrorism should never be politicised and a collective effort is needed to eradicate it, which should be sans partisan considerations.

The Congress leader said this is not the first time that US government has taken a decision against Salahuddin, as several times in the past with efforts of UPA.

He said the US administration has acted against Dawood Ibrahim, Harkat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami, and Indian Mujahiddin. It had also put a $10 million bounty on Lashker-e-Taiba chief Hafeez Sayeed wanted for Mumbai attacks by efforts made by the UPA government.

On China stopping the 'Mansarovar Yatra', Azad said the government is totally mum on that and has not taken any step.

The Chinese incursions into our territory in Sikkim, stoppage of Holy Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have hurt and shocked the entire Nation and while the BJP, PM and other BJP leaders who used to, at the slightest, made such a hue and cry are keeping totally silent now, he said.

"They have to break their silence on this, the nation demands it," he said.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters