Congress slams Amit Shah over his Gupkar Gang remark; I can understand the frustration, Omar reacts sharply

Congress on Tuesday came down heavily on Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his Gupkar Gang remarks. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a statement severely criticised Amit Shah for issuing such misleading and mischievous remarks.

Instead of pushing China back from India's land and fulfilling the responsibility of giving a befitting reply to Pakistan, unrestrained rhetoric has become a routine behavior of the ministers of Amit Shah and Modi government, Randeep Singh Surjewala said in the statement.

He said that the Modi government and its ministers need to refresh their memories and get the facts straight. Congress and many Congress leaders and its workers have sacrificed their lives for this country but this can never be understood by the organisation whose leaders were busy in serving and supporting Britishers. Surjewala posed some questions and asked the Home Minister to answer them before raising doubts over the Congress’ intentions.

He should tell that the parent organisation of the ruling BJP - the RSS did not hoist the tri colour for 52 years. “Amit Shah and the ministers of Modi government need to be taught a lesson in patriotism and nationalism”, Surjewala said.

Amit Shah should also tell why the BJP formed the government in Jammu and Kashmir together with the PDP whom they are criticising now.

Why did the BJP government arrange for the release of infamous terrorists, Maulan Masood Azhar, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh from Jammu and Kashmir jail and weren’t this militants responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack?

Asking several such pertinent questions, Surjewala asserted that “the Indian National Congress favours democratic elections in Jammu and Kashmir and for this purpose the Congress Party is contesting the District Development Council elections to expose the anti-people face of the BJP in a democratic manner.”

Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah reacted sharply to the comments by Home Minister Amit Shah terming the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration a "gang", and said the frustration stems from the political amalgam deciding to contest the forthcoming local body elections and not giving the BJP and its allies a free run.

Reacting to a series of tweets by Shah, Omar, who is also vice president of the National Conference, said, "We are not a gang Amit Shah Ji, we are legitimate political alliance having fought and continuing to fight election, much to your disappointment."

Taking a veiled dig at the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, Omar said, "I can understand the frustration behind this attack by the Hon'ble Home Minister. He had been briefed that the People's Alliance was preparing to boycott elections. This would have allowed the BJP and newly formed King's party a free run in J&K. We didn't oblige them."

He said that only leaders in Jammu and Kashmir can be detained and called anti-national for participating in elections and supporting the democratic process.

"The truth is all those who oppose the ideology of the BJP are labelled 'corrupt and anti-national'," he tweeted.

Shah had earlier called the alliance of political parties in Jammu and Kashmir as 'Gupkar Gang', saying it is an "unholy global gathbandhan" against the country's national interest.

In a series of tweets, Shah also questioned Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi whether they support the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), formed to demand the restoration of Article 370, scrapped last year.

"Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and will always remain an integral part of India. Indian people will no longer tolerate an unholy 'global gathbandhan' against our national interest. Either the Gupkar Gang swims along with the national mood or else the people will sink it," he said.

Shah said the Congress and 'Gupkar Gang' want to take Jammu and Kashmir back to the era of terror and turmoil and they "want to take away rights of Dalits, women and tribals that we have ensured by removing Article 370. This is why they're being rejected by the people everywhere".

"The Gupkar Gang is going global! They want foreign forces to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir. The Gupkar Gang also insults India's Tricolour. Do Sonia Ji and Rahul Ji support such moves of the Gupkar Gang ? They should make their stand crystal clear to the people of India," he said.

With PTI inputs