NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday rejected party leader and former union minister Saifuddin Soz's remarks in which he claimed that "independence" is the first choice of Kashmiris.

The party termed Soz's claims as "cheap gimmick" to sell his forthcoming book and said the party's Jammu and Kashmir unit will take appropriate action.

"Musharraf had explained that if Kashmiris were given a chance to exercise their free will, they would prefer to be independent. In fact, this assessment of Musharraf seems to be correct even today," he has written in the book.

Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, who is also the charge of the AICC communication department, rubbished Soz's contention saying Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will continue to be so.

"Congress party and every rightful citizen of India reject such content as a gimmick to sell a book that is yet to come into the market. There is incontrovertible unquestionable truth and that is J&K was an integral part of India, is an integral part of India, and will always remain an integral part of India," PTI quoted Surjewala as saying.

He said that many people will make many statements "either to sell book or to gain cheap publicity through friends of the media".

The BJP also hit out at Soz and asked Rahul Gandhi if he would take action against him.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Congress have kept the national interest in back seat.

"The pathological hatred against Narendra Modi and deepening hatred against the BJP has become the corner stone of the politics of Congress where at times the national interest takes back seat.

He asked Rahul Gandhi if he would show courage to act against Azad and Soz.

(With inputs from agencies)