Malappuram (Kerala): Taking a dig at the 36 Union cabinet ministers visiting Jammu and Kashmir as part of the Centre's outreach programme, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday called them "cowards" as only five of those political leaders are visiting the Valley - which has been under lockdown since August 5 - while the rest will limit their visit to Jammu only.
Addressing a public gathering on CAA in Kerala he said, "They are sending 36 union ministers to Jammu and Kashmir. But, look at these cowards, 31 are going to Jammu and only five to Kashmir."
He further questioned, "And who are they going to talk to in Kashmir? To the former Chief Ministers? They can't. They are all in jail. Farooq Abdullah is in jail. Omar Abdullah is in jail. Mehbooba (Mufti) is in jail. Whom are they going to talk to?"
On January 15, it was reported that about 36 Union Ministers are scheduled to visit the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir from January 18 to 25 to meet people and exchange ideas on the possibilities in the region.
Earlier, in the month of October last year, a 27-member delegation of European Parliament members was invited by the Government of India to visit Kashmir. But, the move drew severe criticism as 22 of the 27 MEP's were from extreme rightwing parties like the German Alternative for Germany (AfD) famous for its anti-immigrant stand, and France's Rassemblement National.
The inivitation was after the Narendra Modi-led Indian government drew international ire for having abrogated Article 370 which guaranteed special status to Kashmir by putting the erstwhile state under lockdown and detaining most of the local as well national Kashmiri political leaders.
Referring to the majority of the ruling BJP in the Lower House, Aiyar said, "Immediately...these arrogant people, it just went to their heads. They said this is the golden opportunity. We are never going to get 303 seats again. Let us push through all the anti-Muslim legislation that we have in mind."
Meanwhile, commenting on the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution as well as the bifurcation of the erstwhile state, Aiyar said, "They are trying to create a political class. Political class grows from among the people. You cannot have a BJP that doesn't have a single vote in the Valley coming up."
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"Yes, there are traitors like the ones we are seeing now, but then in every society, there are traitors. These are not representatives of the people, if they were, they would have been elected many many years ago...How many elections we have had in J-K? Some of these people are those who were elected and have now decided to betray the cause for which they stood," he said.
Commenting on the Shaheen Bagh protests, the Congress leader said, "And why are they so frightened of going to Shaheen Bagh? For 34 days, they have been sitting there protesting against this attempt to divide India once again on religious grounds."
