Finance Minister Arun Jaitley came down heavily on the Congress manifesto released today stating that it was apparently drafted by the “tukde tukde gang”.

Slamming the grand old party and its chief, Rahul Gandhi, the BJP leader said that the manifesto will “divide India”.

“Even though there was a drafting committee, it appears that some of the important points have been drafted by the Congress President’s friends in ‘Tukde Tukde gang’ when it deals with Jammu-Kashmir,” Jaitley said, adding, “This manifesto has ideas which would divide India.”

The Congress manifesto on Kashmir promises that the AFSPA will be reviewed and the presence of both Army and CAPF personnel in the Kashmir Valley will be reduced. The party also promised that it will “omit Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code” which deals with sedition.

Read More | Congress manifesto on Kashmir: Will review AFSPA, reduce Army presence

Punching holes in the 55-page manifesto released by Gandhi in New Delhi today, Jaitley said, “Our fight against terrorism did not start from 26/11, people who wanted to break India were active in the country since long.”

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Criticising the Congress’ stand on AFSPA, Jaitley said that it will allow terrorists to escape Army operations.

“They say they will hold dialogue with those who want to secede from India. We are establishing rule of law in J-K and they want to establish rule of insurgents and terrorists,” he added.

“The historic mistake committed by Nehru-Gandhi family in J-K, which the nation cannot forgive, is being forwarded by them,” Jaitley said.

At the same time, the Finance Minister drew attention to the Kashmiri Pandits, who find no mention in the Congress manifesto.

“Their chapter on J-K makes no mention of Kashmiri Pandits. The biggest flaw in secularism in India has been that there was ethnic cleansing of an entire community. And they (Congress) have not even a tear drop for them. They have this track record – Rajiv Gandhi brought TADA, Narsimha Rao withdrew it. Atal Bihari Vajpayee brought POTA, Manmohan Singh withdrew it,” Jaitley remarked.

“They are saying that the law of sedition will be removed. So treason will not be a crime. The party that wants this does not have the right to get even a single vote,” said the Finance Minister.

“When out of ignorance, Rahul Gandhi makes dangerous promises, I am sure, the country will not be in a mood to oblige him,” he added.

The Finance Minister also questioned the grand old party’s election promise for the poor stating that the “promises have been made out of ignorance”.