The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tore into the Congress on Friday over the remarks of two of its prominent leaders on terrorism and Jammu-Kashmir.

At a press conference held soon after Congress leader Saifuddin Soz said the people of Kashmir would “prefer to be independent”, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed the grand old party for issuing “irresponsible” statements that were echoed by terrorist groups and other forces who wanted to break India.

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“Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Army is killing more civilians than terrorists. His comment is shameful, unfortunate and irresponsible,” said Prasad responding strongly to Azad’s comment during a TV interview which was on Thursday backed by terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

“Those who support terrorism must be very happy with Ghulam Nabi Azad’s statement,” added Prasad while listing out the difference in the numbers of terrorists killed during the NDA rule and the UPA rule.

“In J-K, 72 terrorists were killed in 2012 and 67 in 2013. Since we came to power, 110 were killed in 2014, 108 in 2015, 150 in 2016, 217 in 2017 and 75 have been killed till May 2018. So Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, you can see difference between your and our government,” Prasad said.

Azad, the 69-year-old Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and former Chief Minister of Jammu-Kashmir, was commenting on the impact of Governor’s Rule which was imposed in the state on 20 June.

The LeT, while criticising the Governor’s Rule, said in an e-mailed statement that Lashkar was of same opinion as that of the Congress leader.

“Today LeT is supporting Congress’ comments. For what political gain is the Congress standing with those who want to break this nation?” a livid Prasad demanded to know.

The Union Law Minister also alleged that the leadership of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former president Sonia Gandhi was “strengthening those who want to break the nation”.

The BJP also slammed Soz for his remarks.

“As a central minister, he (Saifuddin Soz) benefited from Centre’s power when his daughter was kidnapped by JKLF. There’s no use helping these people. Whoever wants to stay here can stay abiding by the Constitution, if they like Musharraf we’ll give them a one-way ticket (to Pakistan),” BJP leader Subramanian Swamy was quoted as saying by ANI.

“While terrorist group LeT endorses the statement of Congress leader GulamNavi Azad, top Congress Neta Saifuddin Soz declares that Kashmiris want to be independent!! Alas there’s a Pakistan outside of India & a Pakistan within the Congress! #CongMahagatbandhanWithLeT,” tweeted Sambit Patra.

While terrorist group LeT endorses the statement of Congress leader GulamNavi Azad, top Congress Neta Saifuddin Soz declares that Kashmiris want to be independent!!
Alas there’s a Pakistan outside of India & a Pakistan within the Congress!#CongMahagatbandhanWithLeT pic.twitter.com/IDsnjwkm4u

— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) June 22, 2018

Soz, whose book, ‘Kashmir: Glimpses of History and the Story of Struggle’ is soon to be released, has seconded the view of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that Kashmiris will “prefer to be independent”, if given a chance.

The 80-year-old Soz, father of Congress leader Salman Anees Soz, also advocated giving preference to Hurriyat above “mainstream” parties.

Reacting to his statement BJP spokesman, Brigadier Anil Gupta (Retd) said, “Unable to digest the groundswell of nationalism and  growing national sentiment in favour of BJP, the Congress has resorted to lowly hate politics through motivated statements by its leaders blaming BJP for planning to communalise the situation before the 2019 Parliamentary elections.”

Another veteran Congress leader, known for changing loyalties, in his recent forthcoming book has seconded the view of Pervez Musharraf that Kashmiris will “prefer to be independent”, if given a chance. Despite having sworn by the Constitution of India on numerous occasions Soz is not only supporting secession and Azadi but has also advocated for giving preference to Hurriyat above “mainstream” parties.

Rahul Gandhi needs to explain to the nation if the Congress party also supports and seconds the secessionist and pro-Pak ideology of its Kashmiri leaders, demanded Brigadier Gupta.