Jaleel Says "Azad Kashmir" Given in Inverted Comma, Remains Mum on India-Occupied J&K Remark

A day after kicking up a huge row over his controversial Facebook remarks on Kashmir, ruling LDF MLA K T Jaleel on Saturday shared another FB post apparently blaming the critics for failing to understand the meaning of his statement. Several people, especially BJP leaders, had come out against his controversial FB post in which he described Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian adheena Jammu and Kashmir” and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir as “Azad Kashmir”. “I have only sympathy for those who don’t understand the meaning of “Azad Kashmir” when it is written in double inverted commas,” Jaleel said in his Malayalam FB post. In his FB comment box, BJP leader Sandeep Varier vehemently criticised his silence over the “India-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir” reference and urged him to explain its meaning. In his FB post written in Malayalam on Friday, the Kerala MLA had said “the part of Kashmir annexed to Pakistan was known as ‘Azad Kashmir’ and it was an area where the Pakistan government does not have direct control.” Jaleel, who was a minister in the previous CPI-led LDF government, said “Indian adheena Jammu and Kashmir” consists of parts of Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.”.