'Mehbooba Mufti is a terrorist': BJP MP Giriraj Singh sparks row

New Delhi: Union Minister and BJP MP Giriraj Singh on Wednesday courted controversy by calling People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti a "terrorist" over her protest in Srinagar marking the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Singh launched a sharp attack on the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister after visuals showed Mufti allegedly holding the national flag upside down during the demonstration.

"Mehbooba Mufti is a terrorist."

Continuing his criticism, Singh said, "I am calling her a terrorist because she has supported terrorists all her life."

Referring to the BJP's past alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh added, "She stayed with us for a short while. We tried to set things right; when they didn't improve, we left it."

Hailing the abrogation of Article 370 as a landmark achievement, Singh said August 5 should be remembered as a historic day for the country.

"Today is a great day in India's history, just like we celebrate August 15 and January 26."

He further said, "It is a great day that Sardar Patel's dreams and the dreams of countless people of India; what we used to say: 'One country, two flags, two heads will not be tolerated, will not be tolerated.'"

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Singh said, "Under the leadership of Narendra Modi ji, on August 5th, 2019, the country's Home Minister Amit Shah ji accomplished it."

He asserted that the constitutional changes made in Jammu and Kashmir were irreversible.

"Now there is one country, one flag, one head, one constitution; now no one has been born who can undo this."

The remarks came a day after Mehbooba Mufti led a protest in Srinagar on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. During the protest, she reiterated the PDP's demand for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, resolution of the Kashmir issue, and the release of political prisoners.

Mufti also claimed that Article 370 had safeguarded the land and employment rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and urged the Centre to withdraw the Army from civilian areas if it believed the security situation had improved.