BJP State Spokesperson Prof. Virender Gupta strongly criticized the statement of Ex-Home Minister and Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram for supporting the demand of Greater Autonomy, thereby providing fuel to the separatists who have waged a war against India at the behest of Pakistan and are threatening the unity and integrity of the country. He said that his statement particularly at this juncture when the security forces are well in control of the situation in the valley, the separatist and terrorists are demoralized and the conditions are fast returning to normal and Pakistan has been isolated and its cry on the Kashmir issue is being given little attention in the world fora, amount to doing disservice to the national interests. Prof. Virender further added that P. Chidambaram attempt also amounts to sabotaging the efforts of Govt. of India to restore the confidence of the Kashmiri people by appointing Mr. Dineshwar Sharma as representative of the Central Government.
The Spokesperson stated that some of the Congress leaders are still following Nehurian mindset that created the Kashmir problem and that is still proving to be a thorn for the Indian union. The two of such leaders are Mani Shankar Aiyar and P. Chidambaram who always favoured and suggested the proposition of returning to accession and considered it as mother of all Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) P. Chidambaram as a Union Home Minister recommended this approach in 2010 to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
Prof. Virender Gupta opined that confiding with Sheikh Abdullah and other National Conference leaders to decide the future of Jammu and Kashmir state by Pt. Nehru, while side lining Maharaja of the State and ignoring the interests of the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions, is one of the greatest blunders in the Modern History of India. He added that treating the J&K State differently as compared to the other princely states and allowing it to have its own constitution and not completely merging the state in the Indian union, by incorporating Article 370 in the Indian constitution, is the basic cause of the present Jammu and Kashmir problem. It speaks of the mindset of Congress party from the very beginning, the spokesperson said.
Prof. Virender stated that removal of Article 370 and bringing Jammu and Kashmir state at par with other states is the only viable solution to Jammu and Kashmir issue. This shall be a befitting reply to the separatists and Pakistan who are supporting and nourishing terrorism in the state. He said this shall pave way to bring the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly, those of the valley, in the national mainstream.
