In what has come as a huge embarrassment for the Congress, a booklet released by the grand old party shows the map of Kashmir as ‘India occupied Kashmir’.
The 15-page booklet titled ‘राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा पर आँच’ (National Security Endangered) was released at a Press conference in Lucknow by senior Congress leader and former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Uttar Pradesh PCC president Raj Babbar on the party’s assessment of three years of the Narendra Modi government.
The Congress which has left the national security of India in a moribund condition alleges that India’s security is under threat in Narendra Modi rule. The party attacked the Modi government for handling India’s relations with Pakistan and China.
The wrong map of Kashmir was published on page-12 of the booklet in a chapter headlined China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
On its part, the Congress called it a “printing error.” “This is a printing error. This was our responsibility. We seek apology. Such mistakes will never be repeated,” senior Congress leader Ajay Maken said.
The BJP latched on to the faux pas attacking the Congress saying the party must have gladdened the heart of its “patrons in Pakistan”.
“It is not only regrettable but shocking that a senior Congress leader like Azad is projecting a map of Kashmir where it is described as Indian occupied Kashmir. Is Congress speaking the language of Pakistan?” senior BJP leader and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
“By projecting Kashmir as Indian occupied Kashmir the Congress party has not only made separatists happy but also gladdened the heart of its patrons across the border. It is condemnable,” Prasad said.