BJP targets Azad, Soz; says there's "a Pakistan within Congress"

New Delhi: The BJP on Friday lashed out at the Congress party for latter's pro-Pakistan and supposed to be pro-Gen Pervez Musharraf statements vis-a-vis the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and alleged that it only gives impression that there is "a Pakistan within the Congress". 

"While terrorist group LeT endorses the statement of Congress leader Ghulam Navi Azad, top Congress Neta Saifuddin Soz declares that Kashmiris want to be independent! Alas there's a Pakistan outside of India and a Pakistan within the Congress," tweeted BJP spokesman Sambit Patra.

He further said such statements are "shocking". "Is this the way you stand for India, or are you standing against India," Mr Patra told television journalists.

Another BJP leader and chief of party's IT Cell chief Amit Malviya also took to the micro blogging site and linked these episodes to the Congress president Rahul Gandhi backing the "tukde tukde (anti-India) gang".

"After LeT Chief endorsed Ghulam Nabi Azad, senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz returns the favour and endorses Musharraf. What is wrong with these Congress leaders?," Mr Malvia tweeted. "No wonder Rahul Gandhi rushed to endorse the Tukde-Tukde (anti-India) gang... Shame," he wrote.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the "poisonous" spirit raised by separatists and other 'anti-India' forces is a matter of concern."Jammu and Kashmir problem is a sensitive issue and Congress leaders should understand this," he underlined.

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz has sparked row by his statement that the then Pakistan President Gen Musharraf was right years back when he had that said that "Kashmiris do not want to merge with Pakistan, their first choice is independence". 

"The statement was true then and remains true now also," he said.The row over these remarks is only getting bigger as a few days back, Congress floor leader in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, also a former J & K Chief Minister, said that with the imposition of Governor's rule in the state - Army would in effect kill many civilians in the garb of eliminating terrorists. 

In fact, Mr Azad's remarks have been endorsed by terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT)

which said it has been stating these over the years and now its views have the backing of senior Congress leader.(UNI)