Congress accuses BJP of spreading misinformation on Article 370

Hyderabad: Telangana Congress Loyalists Forum on Thursday found fault with the BJP government at the Centre for criticising former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on Article 370 issue.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Forum members Marri Shashidhar Reddy, Sambani Chandrasekhar, M Kodanda Reddy, B Kamalakar Rao, T Nagaiah, Dr P Vinay Kumar, A Shyam Mohan, and G Niranjan said that those questioning Article 370 should first brush up their knowledge of history.

At the time of Independence the integration of over 500 princely States into India was a big challenge, which was handled very deftly by Sardar Patel.

Kashmir's accession to India has made it imperative to assure the people of J and K that steps would be taken to protect their culture, rights and aspirations and Article 370 was the way out.

Had it not been for this, Kashmir becoming an integral part of India would have been a big question mark as Pakistan was hoping to make Kashmir their territory, they said.

Nehru made immense contribution to India's Independence and was the torchbearer of the freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.

He spent more time in jail during those days than any other prominent leader, imprisoned for nine times spending 3,259 days ie over 9 years in prison.

They condemned the attempts of the BJP and RSS to author 'alternative history' to misinform the present generation, who are being led to question Pandit Nehru's contributions.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA T Jagga Reddy has also found fault with BJP for criticising the Congress for Article 370. He said that the Congress would announce its stand soon on the issue.

Addressing the media, he said that there was freedom in the Congress to express different opinions on one subject.

However, the stand of the party would be finalized by AICC leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.