A map in a booklet released by the Congress marked out Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Highlights
- UP Congress releases booklet that marks Kashmir as India-occupied Kashmir
- Apologises, says it was a 'printing error', says BJP never apologised
- BJP attacks party over gaffe, says plays into Pakistani narrative
The Congress party is being skewered on social media after publishing a booklet that has labelled Kashmir as 'Indian Occupied Kashmir'. The booklet released by Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress in Lucknow on the occasion of the third anniversary of the BJP-led government at the centre, attacks the administration over national security affairs, including the handling of relations with Pakistan and China.
'Indian Occupied Kashmir' trended on Twitter on Saturday night as the gaffe in the booklet released by senior Congress lawmaker Ghulam Nabi Azad came to light. Attacking the party for the mistake, the BJP said it must have gladdened the heart of its "patrons in Pakistan".
On its part, the Congress party apologised for the "big mistake", and said it was a "printing error". It, however, claimed the BJP had released a similar map on its website but never admitted to the mistake.
"This is a printing error. This was our responsibility. We seek apology. Such mistakes will never be repeated. Unlike BJP, we are a party which can seek apology if there are any mistakes," Congress leader Ajay Maken said.
The booklet was released by Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, in the presence of Raj Babbar, the Congress state president.
Reacting to the incident, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "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?"
"A Parliament resolution says even Pak-occupied Kashmir is part of India. 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," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Targeting the BJP, Mr Maken said its website had on March 28, 2014 shown a similar map. He claimed a map which was released the same year in September during the signing of a treaty with China in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had shown Arunachal Pradesh as part of China.
On Twitter, supporters of the BJP clobbered the Congress for the gaffe.Congress supporters meanwhile countered with their own tweets.
(With inputs from PTI)