'Stick to party's official stance on Art 370': Congress after Digvijaya's disputed remark

Hours after Digvijaya Singh's remarks sparked controversy on Saturday, the Congress asked its leaders to follow the party's stance on the issue of abrogation of Article 370 as articulated in the August 6, 2019 resolution of the CWC.

According to a clubhouse conversation available on social media,  Singh purportedly said the decision of revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of J&K is extremely sad and that the Congress party would “certainly have a relook on the issue.” He was responding to a question about the ''way forward in J&K once the Modi government is gone''.

The BJP launched a scathing attack on the Congress veteran with top party leaders accusing them of speaking ''the language of Pakistan'' and spewing venom against India.

''The Congress Party has clearly stated its position on Jammu and Kashmir, in its resolution of August 6, 2019, of the Congress Working Committee. This is the only official stance of the party. I urge and request all senior leaders to refer to the same,'' Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said on Singh's remarks.

According to the CWC resolution of August 6, 2019, Congress ''deplores the unilateral, brazen and totally undemocratic manner in which Article 370 of the Constitution was abrogated and the State of Jammu and Kashmir was dismembered by misinterpreting the provisions of the Constitution.

''The Indian National Congress pledges to stand with the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and to fight the BJP and its divisive and diabolical agenda with every power in its hands. We urge the people of J&K to maintain peace and calm,'' it said.

J&K integral part of India: CWC

The CWC ''strongly reaffirmed the consistent and stated position'' of the  Congress that J&K, including the areas under the illegal occupation of Pakistan and the part ceded by it to China, are an integral part of the Republic of India.

The integration of J&K with India is final and irrevocable, it said, ''The CWC firmly asserted that all issues pertaining to J&K are internal matters of India and no outside interference will be tolerated,'' the resolution had further said.

Singh's alleged remarks to a journalist of Pakistani origin were shared by BJP leaders on Saturday, unleashing a torrent of criticism against the opposition party and demand a response from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi on the issue.