The Congress has hit back at Home Minister Amit Shah for targetting its chief Mallikarjun Kharge after the latter mistakenly said 'Article 371' instead of 'Article 370' during a speech on Kashmir.
Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Kharge's "slip of the tongue" during his speech in Jaipur only exposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's game plan.
The incident happened on Saturday when Kharge, during an election rally in Jaipur, slammed Modi for claiming "credit for abolishing Article 371 in Kashmir." He was remarking on Modi's speech on the issue when he made the incorrect mention.
The BJP immediately pounced on the remark with Shah and party chief J P Nadda sharing the clip of Kharge's speech on X. Shah called out Kharge for his "horrendous mistake".
"I would like to remind the Congress party that J&K is an integral part of India, and every state and citizen has the right over J&K, just as the people of J&K have the right over the rest of India."
"It is mostly the Italian culture of the Congress party that is to blame for not understanding the very idea of India. Such statements hurt every patriotic citizen who cares for the unity and integrity of the nation," Shah said.
He further added: "…And for the kind information of the Congress, it was not Article 371, but Article 370, that was abrogated by the Modi government. However, it is only expected of Congress to make such horrendous mistakes. Such blunders made by it have haunted our nation for decades now," Shah said.
It is shameful to hear that the Congress party is asking, "Kashmir se kya waasta hai?"
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) April 6, 2024
I would like to remind the Congress party that J&K is an integral part of India, and every state and citizen has the right over J&K, just as the people of J&K have the right over the rest of… pic.twitter.com/cFeO80XBxl
Congress reacted to Shah's dig, stating Kharge's slip of the tongue only exposed the Modi government’s game plan to change Article 371 of the Constitution.
"Amit Shah immediately pounced on the Congress President. But the truth is that Modi does indeed want to change Article 371-A relating to Nagaland, Article 371-B relating to Assam, Article 371-C relating to Manipur, Article 371-F relating to Sikkim, Article 371-G relating to Mizoram, and Article 371-H relating to Arunachal Pradesh," Ramesh said.
He continued, "Amit Shah got all excited and agitated because Khargeji inadvertently exposed the Modi-Shah gameplan on Article 371; now that they have gotten Article 370 out of the way."
