#Article370Scrapped: How is J&K internal matter, asks Congress; commits blunder
In what qualifies as one of the biggest gaffes of Congress in recent days, their Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday asked how was Jammu and Kashmir India's "internal matter" when the issue was being monitored by the UN. Chowdhury made these comments while questioning Centre over its move to repeal Article 370. His statement is bound to prove costly for Congress.
A quick recap on what has happened so far
Scripting history, BJP on Monday moved a bill to scrap Article 370, which bestowed J&K with a special status. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while introducing the J&K Reorganization Bill, disclosed that J&K would be split into two union territories. He explained the Article, suggested as a temporary solution, only devoid J&K of development, promoted terrorism, and made corruption easier.
Naturally, Congress decided to oppose Centre's mega decision
The Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on Monday and was introduced in Lok Sabha earlier in the day. Congress, which has decided to oppose the Centre's stand, slammed BJP for turning J&K into a union territory overnight. "I don't think you are thinking about PoK, you violated all rules and converted a state into a Union Territory overnight," Chowdhury said in the House.
Congress reminded UN was monitoring J&K since 1948
"You say that it is an internal matter. But it is being monitored since 1948 by the UN, is that an internal matter? We signed the Shimla Agreement & Lahore Declaration, was that an internal matter or bilateral? (sic)" asked Chowdhury.
Watch: A video of Chowdhury's epic blunder
PoK is part of J&K, clarified Shah
As soon as Chowdhury made the comments, the BJP leaders protested. He tried to cover up by saying he was being "misunderstood" but the damage was done. Notably, Shah said when he talks about J&K he includes PoK and Aksai Chin too. "Whenever I've mentioned J&K, I've meant to say PoK is part of it. Jaan de denge iske liye," an aggressive Shah said.
Jaan de denge iske liye: Shah
No kidding: Congress brought '50 shades of grey' in argument
After Chowdhury, Manish Tewari, seen as an expert on J&K, rose up to berate BJP. When Shah asked Congress to clarify its stand on Article 370, Tewari replied, "There's an English book, it's not black and white, it's 50 Shades Of Grey (which is actually an erotic novel)." Tewari went on to say that BJP has the wrong interpretation of the Constitution.
What message are you sending, Tewari asked BJP
"Indian Constitution does not have only Article 370. It also has Article 371 A to I. They provide special rights to Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra, Sikkim, etc. Today when you're scrapping Article 370, what message are you sending to these states," Tewari went on.
