An impassioned dispute on the contentious issue, matching the raging controversies of last week, flared afresh with Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party crossing swords over Rahul Gandhi ‘distorting’ the Indian map on the eve of the high-profile Bharat Jodo Yatra finale in Karnataka. The state unit of the BJP had taken to X to share an image of the poster, claiming it depicted Kashmir as part of Pakistan-an act of blatant disrespect toward the sovereignty of India. “All this to keep their vote bank happy. Shameless!”-BJP’s post.
The Congress promptly responded to the allegations and said that the BJP wanted to jeopardize an important meeting of the CWC scheduled in Belagavi, marking 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi headed a similar meeting.
Senior BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla seized on the controversy to say that the alleged distortion of the map showed the Congress’s “Bharat todo, tukde-tukde” mentality. He repeated old allegations that Rahul Gandhi had allied with U.S. lawmaker Ilhan Omar, who speaks for Kashmir joining Pakistan, and that Sonia Gandhi was earlier associated with an organization that promoted such a line.
The BJP’s allegations were further reinforced by a report in the French publication Mediapart, which suggested that George Soros’s OCCRP (Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) was linked with the U.S. government. The BJP charged that the Congress was in league with Soros to malign India.
The Congress hit back, calling itself patriotic in response to the BJP accusations. Poonawalla went on to attack the Congress for its “long-term interest in gifting Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan.”
Amit Malviya of the BJP followed with the argument that it was part of a larger appeasement policy, where the Congress looks at Indian Muslims as more loyal to Pakistan and called it the “New Muslim League.”
The BJP’s CR Kesavan attacked Congress’s centenary celebration of the CWC session at Sevagram and termed the session a “monumental mockery” of the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi.
The Congress again called this controversy a BJP-RSS fabrication. According to senior Congress leader Srinivas BV, the party is celebrating 100 years of Gandhiji’s presidency of the AICC-a moment that was one of reforming and progress, adding that “BJP’s propaganda with lies on the function doesn’t merit response.”.
Other reports quoted sources suggesting that Congress had tried to distance itself from the controversial posters, calling them unauthorized. “These are not official banners of the Congress; they were put out by some followers,” said state leader Nagaraj Yadav.
The session is likely to be attended by top Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and MPs Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Sources said Sonia Gandhi may skip the session on health grounds, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could be by her side.
