New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday hit out at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who had slammed PM Modi for mentioning Jammu and Kashmir in a Rajasthan rally, saying "It is mostly the Italian culture of the Congress party that is to blame for not understanding the very idea of India."

Shah's remarks came after Kharge slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning the abrogation of Article 370 in Rajasthan's Churu.

"Such statements hurt every patriotic citizen who cares for the unity and integrity of the nation. People will certainly answer Congress," Shah wrote on social media X (formerly Twitter).

"It is shameful to hear that the Congress party is asking, "Kashmir se kya waasta hai?" he said.

"I would like to remind the Congress party that J&K is an integral part of India, and every state and citizen has the right over J&K, just as the people of J&K have the right over the rest of India. The Congress does not know that many brave sons of Rajasthan have sacrificed their lives for peace and security in Kashmir," Shah said.

The Home Minister continued, "It is not merely the fault of the Congress leaders. It is mostly the Italian culture of the Congress party that is to blame for not understanding the very idea of India. Such statements hurt every patriotic citizen, who cares for the unity and integrity of the nation. People will certainly answer Congress."

Over Article 370, he said, "For the kind information of the Congress, it was not Article 371, but Article 370, that was abrogated by the Modi government."

"However, it is only expected of Congress to make such horrendous mistakes. Such blunders made by it have haunted our nation for decades now," he added.

(With UNI inputs)