Sitharaman Corners Congress Over Kashmiri Pandit Exodus, Accuses Nehru Of Taking Kashmir Issue To UN

Nehru had appealed to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) through a petition filed in 1948 - after the first war between India and Pakistan took place.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the second part of Budget Session. (Image: Sansad TV/PTI)

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing hotbed debate of the exodus of Kashmiri pandits from the valley back in 1990, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday slammed the Congress party for putting the onus on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for failing to check the injustice.

While speaking in Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Budget session, Sitharaman even accused Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, of internationalising the Kashmir issue by taking it to the United Nations. 

Nehru had appealed to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) through a petition filed in 1948 - after the first war between India and Pakistan took place. Sitharaman further said that the matter should not have gone to an international forum as it was an internal issue.

"It was our first PM Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru ji who internationalised the Kashmir issue. He took it to the United Nations in December 1947. Why?...This issue shouldn't have gone to a global forum. It's an Indian issue. We could've handled it," the Finance Minister said in Parliament. 

It was our first PM Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru ji who internationalised the Kashmir issue. He took it to the United Nations in December 1947. Why?...This issue shouldn't have gone to a global forum. It's an Indian issue. We could've handled it.

- Smt @nsitharaman in Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/23lAFfFL9C

— NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) March 23, 2022

Referring to Pakistan, the Finance Minister stated, "Till today, our neighbours are misusing the move to take Kashmir issue to the UN." 

Sitharaman's response came after Congress accused BJP of sharing the responsibility for the failure to check the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 as it was supporting the then VP Singh-led government at the Centre.

Furthermore, Sitharaman also pointed out that terror killings in Kashmir were being carried out before 1990 when the National Conference was in power in the Valley in alliance with Congress.

She also recalled the then governor Jagmohan's warning about dark clouds of terror overpowering the Valley.

The minister was replying to a discussion on the Budget 2022-23 for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) in Rajya Sabha where she said that after the abrogation of Article 370, "you see justice, democracy and economic development reaching" to the residents of the UT.

Earlier in the day, the Parliament approved Rs 1.42-lakh-crore budget for Jammu and Kashmir for 2022-23 fiscal, with Rajya Sabha returning the relevant bills which Lok Sabha had approved on March 14.

"I just want to put the facts on record. The National Conference government with the support of the Indian National Congress was in power in J&K from November 1986 to January 18, 1990.

And Governor Jagmohan reached J&K (on January 20, 1990) after the resignation of the then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah....20th January 1990 is when the Governor reaches Srinagar," the minister said.

"...whatever happened in 1990, we all know we listed out and we are all seeing it also, she pointed out.

But what happened in 1989 when this (Farooq Abdullah) government was still in place, November 1986 onwards till 18 January 1990. I will take just the example of 1989 when that government of National Conference and Indian National Congress was still there, "Sitharaman said.

During her speech, several Opposition members asked her to focus on her reply on the Budget, to which Sitharaman said that speeches of Opposition members too were focused on "The Kashmir Files" movie and she has every right to rely on all issues.