‘Will Decide After I-Day’: Guv Malik on Rahul’s J&K Visit Request

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik. 

(Photo: PTI/IANS/Altered by The Quint)

In a continued war of words between him and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday, 14 August, said the J-K administration is occupied with arrangements for Independence Day celebrations and will get in touch with the MP at a “convenient time” over his visit to the state.

The governor’s reaction came after Gandhi in a tweet on Wednesday repeated his demand to visit Jammu and Kashmir and asked Malik when he could come.

“At present, the entire state administration is preoccupied with making arrangements for the celebration of Independence Day”, Malik said in a statement.

The governor said he has already referred the matter to the local administration which will get in touch with Gandhi at a convenient time and added that he has no further statement to make on the issue.

The exchange of words between Gandhi and Malik over a J&K visit continued on Wednesday after the Congress MP dismissed Malik’s statement that he had put many conditions on his visit.

In a tweet, Gandhi said that he does not accept any conditions for visiting the tense state, further asking Malik again as to when he can visit.

Earlier, Satya Pal Malik had on Tuesday, 13 August, lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for putting "pre-conditions" for a visit to the state.

He alleged that Rahul was trying to “create unrest” by seeking to bring a delegation of opposition leaders to the state.

Catch all the live updates on tensions in J&K here.

"Rahul Gandhi is politicising the matter by seeking to bring a delegation of opposition leaders to create further unrest and problems for the common people," the governor had said in the statement.

Malik said he had never invited the Congress leader with “so many pre-conditions” and has referred the matter to the local police and administration for further examination.

“Rahul Gandhi was responding to fake news possibly spread from across the border about situation in Kashmir, which is peaceful with negligible incidents. He can check for himself from various Indian channels which have reported correct position in the valley.”

Satya Pal Malik, Kashmir Governor said in a statement

‘Governor Taking U-Turn’: Congress Hits Back

Hitting back at the governor for "taking a U-turn" on his offer to visit the state, the Congress said he should stand by his word.

‘Need Freedom Not Aircraft to Visit J&K’: Rahul Gandhi

Following remarks by Gandhi that there have been reports of violence in Kashmir, Malik on Monday had said he will send him an aircraft to visit the Valley and observe the ground situation.

On Tuesday, Gandhi accepted Malik's 'invitation' and said a delegation of opposition leaders and he will visit Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He asked the governor to ensure the “freedom” to meet “the people, mainstream leaders and our soldiers stationed over there.”

On Saturday, 10 August night, Gandhi had said that some reports had come in from Jammu and Kashmir about the violence there and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must assuage concerns over the matter in a transparent manner.