CPM doesn’t use the phrase ‘India occupied Kashmir’; Minister M V Govindan rejects K T Jaleel over controversial remark

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister M V Govindan has rejected the controversial Kashmir remark made by former minister K T Jaleel. The CPM doesn’t use the phrase ‘India occupied Kashmir’. Let Jaleel himself explain the context of the remark, said the minister. “The party has a clear stance regarding India and Kashmir. Whatever anyone says other than that is not the party's stance. Let K T Jaleel himself explain on what basis he had made the remark”, said Govindan.

Meantime, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi criticized that Jaleel’s remarks were poisonous and seditious. BJP state president K Surendran and national executive committee member P K Krishnadas also came down heavily on Jaleel’s remarks. MLA Shafi Parambil responded that Pakistan's occupation was not only in Kashmir but also in Jaleel's mind. After the remark sparked a controversy, Jaleel explained that the critics did not understand his Azad Kashmir remark, which was written within double inverted coma. However, the Left minister expressed his response without supporting Jaleel’s remark.