Netizens fume over DMK spokesperson A Saravanan's 'anti-India' statement on Kashmir integration

Netizens fumed over DMK spokesperson A Saravanan's contentious 'Kashmir not an integral part of India' claim on Republic TV's Debate with Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on August 12. 

This divisive statement fetched the DMK official spokesperson flak from netizens, who attacked MK Stalin's DMK party, calling it a 'separatist party'

Here's what netizens had to say: 

@AmitShah @HMOIndia why is no action taken against @asaravanan21 of the DMK for saying that Kashmir is not an integral part of India? Is this the DMk’s official stand ? A party of traitors by traitors for traitors!

— ChowkidarKanchiKamakshi (@n_lalitha) August 12, 2019

#DMKSupportsPak
The recognition of this party should be banned by election commission

— Ram (@RamHindu6) August 16, 2019

Shame on DMK for taking anti-India stand.

— thangamani (@ctmani) August 13, 2019

Attrocious statement from the DMK man. Should be condemned by all. Will DMK evict him from the party for this anti national statement?

— Balaji D (@balaji_d) August 15, 2019

Democracy doesnt give anybody the right to divide the nation...#SoniaDontDivide

— Bharat Somvanshi (@Bharat___Vanshi) August 12, 2019

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan in a statement refuted to allegations against him over the J&K debate, despite claiming it on record that Kashmir was 'never an integral part of India' on Republic TV's Debate with Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on August 12. 

In a statement issued by DMK, Saravanan has stated that he still maintains his stand that he never uttered anything 'against the integrity of the country.'

READ| MR Venkatesh Says, 'DMK's False Beard Fell Off,' Over Spokesperson Saravanan's Controversial Statement On Kashmir

Justifying his side,  he stated that he meant to say, "Kashmir was never an integral part of India" in the context during the independence and that Kashmir was made an 'integral part only in 1956, as per the agreement with Raja Hari Singh.' 

Moreover, Saravanan maintained that he was not given the space to clarify the remarks made during the debate on Republic TV. 

He further said that he 'did not run away' amid the debate, but was only 'forced' to leave after being 'targeted' by Arnab Goswami and the fellow panelists, following his statement on Kashmir.

He said: 

"As soon as I said 'India was never an integral part of India', Arnab Goswami asked 'How can you say it is not a part of the country'" 

"The 'was' changed to 'is' by them," the DMK spokesperson alleged. 

#SoniaDontDivide | Kashmir stands completely integrated with India, not divided: Adv Aman Sinha- Spokesperson, BJP pic.twitter.com/ETx4DONvqo

— Republic (@republic) August 12, 2019