AMN
UNION Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has slammed Congress leader P Chidambaram for his remarks on autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, position of Congress with regard to Azadi or greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir goes directly contrary to India’s national interest.
Mr Jaitley said that the Kashmir problem is the Congress’s legacy and instead of learning from its past mistakes it wants to precipitate a crisis for this country.
The finance minister also said the Congress needs to clarify whether it is the party’s stand.
He said, 10 years of the UPA Government was a wasted opportunity on Jammu and Kashmir and not a single initiative worked. He said, the present government have succeeded in squeezing the funds for the terrorists and mass protests of stone throwers are by and large over.
He said, terrorist are on the run and security forces have an upper hand. At this stage to rationalize Azadi, Congress is just deceiving the country, itself and encouraging separatism in the state which is a very serious issue.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani said, it is quite shocking and disgusting that Mr Chidambaram is speaking about breaking the Union of India into pieces and supports those who actually murdered the security forces just so that they can play havoc with law and order situation in the state.
The Minister said, she is not surprised at the statement of Mr Chidambaram given his leader Rahul Gandhi supported those who gave slogan of “Bharat tere tukde honge” during JNU crisis and it reflects the Congress mentality.
Ms Irani said, standing in the state of Gujarat, the land of Sardar patel who united India, what message Mr Chidambaram and Congress is trying to give, that at their doorstep of political gain they are willing to sacrifice nationhood.
Meanwhile, Congress sought to distance itself from the remarks of Mr. Chidambaram on Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress said that the opinion of an individual is not necessarily the opinion of the party.
Congress’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so unquestionably.