Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday slammed Pakistan for speaking out against India’s decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of special status, saying that the Opposition’s questioning of the government on the abrogation of Article 370 “doesn’t give any other country any leverage to question our government’s intention.”
In an exclusive interview to a TV channel, Shashi Tharoor said, “I want to make this absolutely clear that Kashmir is India’s internal matter. We as the opposition will question the government on its move but that doesn’t give any other country any leverage to question our government’s intention.”
While referring to the clampdown in J&K as “absolutely undemocratic”, Shashi Tharoor said, “On one hand we’re saying that Kashmir is an internal part and on the other hand, we’re putting Kashmiris through so much. They can’t speak to their family members, they can’t communicate with their relatives. Kids are not going to school. This clampdown is absolutely undemocratic.'”
Pakistan had criticised the Modi government after it decided to abrogate Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated the state into two Union territories. The government discarded Pakistan arguments and asked it to not interfere in J&K issue as it is India’s “internal matter”.
The Opposition, however, is questioning the consequences of the lockdown imposed by the government on August 5, which has not been entirely lifted since then. The normal life in J&K remains affected as the communication blockade still remain in the Valley. Moreover, top leaders have been under house arrest since the curfew was imposed there.
“Our elected leaders are under house arrest, they can’t put their opinion in public forum. We as the opposition will keep questioning the government, ” said Shashi Tharoor on the restrictions and curfew in J&K.
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