Mir raps Lone for ‘pro-Pak slogans’

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 26

Embarrassed over the pro-Pakistan slogans raised by Mohammad Akbar Lone, a candidate of National Conference (NC) from Baramulla parliamentary seat, the Congress on Tuesday said it had taken up the issue with the leadership of NC, its ally.

The Congress had come under fire from its opponents, particularly the BJP, after the NC leader’s “pro-Pakistan” utterances during an election rally in Kashmir on March 23. The youth wing of Congress had publicly demanded stern action against Lone.

“It is unacceptable for Congress that anyone, who held a constitutional position, raises pro-Pakistan slogans. We have taken up the matter with NC leadership and it is up to them to take action against Lone,” Ghulam Ahmed Mir, JKPCC president, said during a press conference.

He said it was not the first time that Lone had raised such controversial slogans. “BJP should also answer why Kavinder Gupta, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, who had constitutional authority, did not take suitable action when Lone raised such slogans on the floor of Assembly during the PDP-BJP government,” he said.