Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday lashed out at Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for allegedly joking about the benefits of the Centre’s recent move to scrap Article 370 on Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at an event, Khattar had allegedly joked stating that ‘route to Kashmir is cleared and now we will bring girls from Kashmir.’
Taking to Twitter, Gandhi wrote, “Haryana CM, Khattar’s comment on Kashmiri women is despicable and shows what years of RSS training does to the mind of a weak, insecure and pathetic man. Women are not assets to be owned by men.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also tweeted, “We,and more so people holding high public office, must restrain ourselves from making insensitive comments about the beloved people of Jammu and Kashmir. These are hurtful, not only for J&K, but the entire nation.”
We,and more so people holding high public office, must restrain ourselves from making insensitive comments about the beloved people of Jammu and Kashmir. These are hurtful, not only for J&K, but the entire nation
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 10, 2019
Reacting to Gandhi’s tweet, Khattar shared the clip of his controversial speech and accused the Congress MP of distorting his comments. He wrote, “Dear @RahulGandhi ji, at least at your level, you shouldn’t react on distorted news. I’m attaching the video of what I actually said, and In what context – this will give you clarity of mind.”
Dear @RahulGandhi ji, at least at your level, you shouldn’t react on distorted news. I’m attaching the video of what I actually said, and In what context – this will give you clarity of mind. https://t.co/TCjhV0cuiO pic.twitter.com/GfD3SWlETI
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) August 10, 2019
In his subsequent tweet, Khattar accused media outlets of running misleading people by wrongly interpreting his comments. He said that daughters of the entire country were his pride.
कुछ मीडिया चैनल और न्यूज एजेंसियों के हवाले से एक भ्रामक तथा तथ्यहीन प्रचार चलाया जा रहा है। जनता से मेरा ईमानदार संवाद हमेशा रहा है इसलिये मेरे बयान का पूरा वीडियो मैं सोशल मीडिया के माध्यम से शेयर कर रहा हूँ। बेटियाँ हमारी शान हैं और पूरे देश की बेटियाँ हमारी बेटियाँ हैं। https://t.co/0eCR4pFQCY pic.twitter.com/qRZVOpy24Y
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) August 10, 2019
Elsewhere, Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Saturday had demanded the filing of an FIR against Khattar for his comments on Kashmiri girls. Maliwal wrote on Twitter, “ML Khattar should be ashamed for this disgusting statement. The chief minister is speaking the language of a roadside Romeo. A woman is just a commodity for him. The PM is trying to reassure the people of Kashmir that the entire country is with them, but this incompetent CM is promoting violence with his obscene statements. There should be an FIR against him at any cost.”