The Home Minister’s remark was prompted by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s criticism of the BJP for bringing up the issue of revoking Article 370 in Rajasthan.
New Delhi: The BJP launched a scathing attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday following his criticism of the ruling party for discussing the removal of Article 370 of the Constitution in Rajasthan. Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the opposition party’s “Italian culture” was to blame for its failure to comprehend the essence of India.
Mr Shah, along with other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including its president JP Nadda, shared a brief clip of Kharge’s speech, in which he questioned the ruling party’s focus on abolishing Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, in Rajasthan.
“Arre bhai, yahan ke logon se kya wasta hai (what has it got to do with the people here)?” Mr Kharge is heard asking in the clip. Additionally, the Congress president incorrectly referred to Article 371 instead of Article 370, which was revoked by the BJP-led Centre in August 2019.
Mr Shah remarked that it was “shameful” to hear Kharge’s statement. He reminded the Congress that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and every state and citizen has equal rights over it, just as the people of the Union territory have rights over the rest of the country.
Taking a dig at the Congress, Mr Shah stated that the party’s lack of understanding of the concept of India is primarily due to its “Italian culture”. He emphasized that such remarks hurt patriotic citizens who value the nation’s unity and integrity, and assured that the people would respond to the Congress.
He further clarified that it was not Article 371, but Article 370, that was abrogated by the Modi government.
Continuing his criticism, the home minister noted that such blunders made by the Congress have plagued the nation for decades.
Mr Nadda also capitalized on the issue to criticize the Congress, highlighting the party’s misunderstanding of the situation and its desire for Jammu and Kashmir to remain disconnected from the rest of India.
He stressed that Jammu and Kashmir will remain an integral part of India, and the removal of Article 370 is closely linked to national pride and the unity and integrity of the country.
