Cong downplays Tewari remarks

Jan 27, 2010

New Delhi, Jan. 27: The Congress downplayed the controversy over reported remarks of party spokesperson Manish Tewari that Kashmiri pandits had left the Valley not because of terrorism but due to the role of the state governor.

Upset over the reported remark, the Kashmiri pandit community held a demonstration at the AICC headquarters on Wednesday condemning the reported statement of Mr Tewari that the community did not leave the Valley due to terrorism.
Held under the banner of Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi, the demonstrators burnt the effigy of Mr Tewari and asked the government to spell out its policy about them.
All-India Congress Committee media department secretary Tom Vadakkan said that Mr Tewari was quoted out of context in a free-wheeling panel discussion on a television channel.
L.N. Dhar, president of the Kashmiri Samiti alleged that Mr Tewari, during a TV channel discussion had said that Kashmiri pandits left the Valley because of the fear psychosis created by the then governor Jagmohan and not due to terrorism.
The demonstrators said they wanted to know if Mr Tewari’s statement was the official position of the Congress or he was expressing his own opinion.

Age correspondent

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