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Why did US identity JK as ‘Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’, Congress asks PM Modi

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Srinagar: The Indian National Congress (INC) on Tuesday criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led union governmet for not objecting to the phrase ‘Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’ used by the United States government in its order designating Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin a “global terrorist”.

It accused the Modi government of “pseudo nationalism”.

The United States State Department on Monday designated Kashmiri militant leader and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen supreme commander Syed Salahuddin as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT) and imposed sanctions on him.

Muhammad Yusuf Shah aka Syed Salahuddin is the leader of the indigenous and largest militant group that “fights against Indian rule over Kashmir”.

“Shocking that the US government order on Syed Salahuddin refers to ‘Indian Administered Jammu & Kashmir’. No protest from Modi Sarkar. Complicit sell-out?,” Congress spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala said in a series of tweets.

“Modiji and BJP drumbeat and preach ‘Pseudo Nationalism’ everyday. India asks – why have you accepted US phrase of ‘Indian Administered Jammu & Kashmir’,” read another tweet.

Part of the text cited by Surjewala as the US government Order, read: “Under Salahuddin’s tenure as senior HM (Hizbul Mujahideen) leader, HM has claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the April 2014 explosives attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, which injured 17 people.”

The Congress leader also flayed the government for its “chest-thumping”.

“Empty chest thumping, false bravado and captive TV studio warfare by BJP government cannot hide its failures in compromising national security. Terrorism should never be politicised and a collective effort is needed to eradicate it, which should be sans partisan considerations,” he said.

He listed previous such labelling of “terrorists” by the US government during the Congress-led UPA tenure.

Salahuddin finished his Masters in Political Science at Srinagar University in 1971, where he wrote several poems.

Syed Salahuddin, the United Jihad Council chief, addressing a gathering in Muzaffarabad in Muzaffarabad – capital of Pakistan administered Kashmir – on July 13, 2011.

He later jointed Jama’at-e-Islami (JeI) after concluding his education and contested state elections in 1987.

He was arrested from inside the ticket counting hall in Srinagar and eventually released in 1989.

The MUF alleged widespread rigging of polls by the NC-Congress alliance led by Dr Farooq Abdullah.

He formed and joined the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Along with Hizb ul Mujahideen, Salahuddin also leads the United Jihad Council (UJC), which is a conglomerate of many militant outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir since mid-1990s.

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