Union minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Jammu and Kashmir, claiming “he cared little for the tricolour and is liked by Pakistan”.

Irani’s criticism came hours after the Congress leader hit out at Islamabad for instigating violence in Jammu and Kashmir, his remarks being seen by the BJP as a damage control exercise following reports that Pakistan had cited him in a petition to the United Nations.

“It is not for the first time that Pakistan is finding support from Rahul Gandhi,” the Women and Child Development Minister said during a visit to the constituency she wrested from the Congress leader in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

“It is a misfortune of the country that there is a leader in India who thinks less of the tricolour and values it little, and is liked more by the enemy country,” she said.

Uttar Pradesh minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also criticised the former Congress president over his earlier remarks and said his own state alone was enough to take on Pakistan.

Referring to the debate in Parliament when the government decided to abrogate the special status for Jammu and Kashmir, Irani said the people were “stunned” by the remarks by some Congress members when Home Minister Amit Shah spoke about one tricolour and one Constitution for the entire country.

She claimed that these voices, which followed “hints and directions” from Gandhi, reflected the Congress “mentality of dividing India”.

Reminded about the most recent remarks by Gandhi over Pakistan’s role in violence in Kashmir, she said, “When you speak in Parliament, it has its own constitutional dignity.” Irani said she wanted the Congress to realise that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of India and the citizens there wanted development to reach every household “under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

“It would be better for the country if Rahul Gandhi does not ignite the fire of separatism,” she said.

Irani was in Amethi on a one-day visit, during which 72 health centres were dedicated to the people. She said something like this had never happened before in the constituency, once considered a Gandhi bastion.

She added that road projects worth Rs 90 crore were also announced on Wednesday and claimed that the pace of development in Amethi has picked up in the three months since the elections.

Uttar Pradesh PWD Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya alleged that Gandhi has been speaking like Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan since the revocation of J-K’s special status under Article 370.

“We condemn Rahul Gandhi for the language that he is using,” he said.

“It might be an exaggeration on my part to say this but UP alone is enough to take on Pakistan,” Maurya said.

BJP has upped the ante against the former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, alleging that his “shameful” comments on Kashmir have been used by Pakistan to make its case in the United Nations.

Referring to his tweets on Kashmir this morning, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar demanded an apology both from Rahul Gandhi and the Congress saying that the party has insulted the country.

Javadekar also called the Opposition delegation to Kashmir led by Gandhi as “irresponsible”.

Pakistan has taken the issue of abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution to the UN while quoting Gandhi’s comments to justify its stand.

Thereafter, the Congress on Wednesday slammed Pakistan for “mischievously dragging the name of Rahul Gandhi” in its petition at the UN.

The Congress party further made it clear that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and shall always remain an integral part of India.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had “made it clear” that Kashmir is India’s internal matter even as he said that he does disagree with the Centre on many issues.

In a series of tweets, Gandhi said that Kashmir is India’s internal issue and that there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it.

The Congress leader further said that there is violence in Jammu and Kashmir which is instigated and supported by Pakistan, known to be the prime supporter of terrorism across the world.