News Brief
Former LDF Minister And MLA K T Jaleel Courts Controversy After Comments About 'India Occupied J&K'
LDF MLA K T Jaleel
The Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, which has already been facing serious charges in the gold smuggling case, has found itself in another soup.
Former Kerala Minister and ruling LDF MLA K T Jaleel on Friday wrote a FB post describing Jammu and Kashmir as 'Indian adheena Jammu and Kashmir' (India occupied Jammu and Kashmir) and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir as 'Azad Kashmir.'
Jaleel made the remarks after his visit to Kashmir. Written in Malayalam and translated in English, the post read:
"Kashmir's face is not bright enough. Soldiers with guns everywhere. Policemen also have guns slung over their shoulders. Army green has been the colour of Kashmir for decades. Armed soldiers can be seen every hundred meters along the road. There was sadness on the faces of the common people. It seems that Kashmiris have become a people who have forgotten to laugh."
On abrogation of Article 370, Jaleel added, "The anger on the second Modi government for cutting Kashmir into three can be read from the expression of the people. The feeling of alienation is deeply rooted in the Kashmiri heart."
The Kerala MLA said 'the part of Kashmir annexed to Pakistan was known as 'Azad Kashmir' and it was an area where the Pakistan government does not have direct control.'
LDF MLA K T Jaleel was accused of indulging in anti-India activities by Swapna Suresh, prime accused in the gold-smuggling case. She had filed an affidavit in the Kerala High Court alleging that Jaleel -- while he was a minister in the previous LDF government -- tried to hoodwink the ruler of UAE by trying to wrongly depict a Malayalam daily's news reports as against that nation.
BJP leader Sandeep Varier slammed Jaleel for his remarks, saying they were 'serious and it is clear that his venomous thinking is visible through the lines.'
CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said he will respond after reading the Facebook post.
(with inputs from PTI)
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