<p>Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday hit out at Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik for his u-turn on the invite to Rahul Gandhi to visit the state, saying that it was "never sincere" and a "propaganda tool".</p>.<p>Chidambaram's remarks came a day after Malik turned down the invitation for Rahul to visit J&K accusing him of politicising the issue by seeking to bring along a delegation of opposition leaders.</p>.<p>"J&K Governor's invitation to Rahul Gandhi was never a sincere invitation. It was a tool of propaganda," Chidambaram said.</p>.<p><strong>Kashmir Live: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/liveblog/kashmir-live-pak-seeks-emergency-meeting-of-unsc-over-kashmir-752128.html" target="_blank">For latest updates click here</a></strong></p>.<p>The former Home Minister said that Malik's claims that Rahul had put conditions for the Kashmir visit was "rubbish." </p>.<p>"Rahul Gandhi asked for freedom to meet everyone, including soldiers. How is that putting conditions," Chidambaram asked.</p>.<p>"Can a visitor not ask for freedom to meet different sections of the people and to enquire about the welfare of the soldiers," Chidambaram said.</p>.<p>The J&K Governor had invited Rahul to the Kashmir Valley to observe the ground situation.</p>.<p>The invite came in response to Rahul's comments on Saturday night about "reports of violence" from the state in protest against the government move to strip J&K of the special status it enjoyed under Article 370 and the decision to split the state into two union territories.</p>.<p>The Governor's office had issued a statement rebuking Rahul for <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/jk-visit-rahul-is-trying-to-create-unrest-says-guv-754141.html" target="_blank">spreading "fake news" regarding the situation in Kashmir</a>.</p>
<p>Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday hit out at Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik for his u-turn on the invite to Rahul Gandhi to visit the state, saying that it was "never sincere" and a "propaganda tool".</p>.<p>Chidambaram's remarks came a day after Malik turned down the invitation for Rahul to visit J&K accusing him of politicising the issue by seeking to bring along a delegation of opposition leaders.</p>.<p>"J&K Governor's invitation to Rahul Gandhi was never a sincere invitation. It was a tool of propaganda," Chidambaram said.</p>.<p><strong>Kashmir Live: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/liveblog/kashmir-live-pak-seeks-emergency-meeting-of-unsc-over-kashmir-752128.html" target="_blank">For latest updates click here</a></strong></p>.<p>The former Home Minister said that Malik's claims that Rahul had put conditions for the Kashmir visit was "rubbish." </p>.<p>"Rahul Gandhi asked for freedom to meet everyone, including soldiers. How is that putting conditions," Chidambaram asked.</p>.<p>"Can a visitor not ask for freedom to meet different sections of the people and to enquire about the welfare of the soldiers," Chidambaram said.</p>.<p>The J&K Governor had invited Rahul to the Kashmir Valley to observe the ground situation.</p>.<p>The invite came in response to Rahul's comments on Saturday night about "reports of violence" from the state in protest against the government move to strip J&K of the special status it enjoyed under Article 370 and the decision to split the state into two union territories.</p>.<p>The Governor's office had issued a statement rebuking Rahul for <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/jk-visit-rahul-is-trying-to-create-unrest-says-guv-754141.html" target="_blank">spreading "fake news" regarding the situation in Kashmir</a>.</p>
