The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday distanced itself from the statement of party leader Prashant Bhushan, who called for a referendum on the deployment of Army in Jammu & Kashmir. Bhushan’s statement invited criticism from all parties.
AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the deployment of the Army within the country should be based on internal security threat and there was no question of a referendum on it. “AAP does not support referendum on such issues… but feelings of locals should be taken into account, otherwise it will be a threat to democracy,” Kejriwal said.
In the evening, the party called a Press conference at its head office as part of damage control and claimed that Bhushan’s comment was distorted. While, defending Bhushan, AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said, “His comments were distorted. We are against any referendum on Army’s presence in Kashmir. The AAP believes in a unified India. This isn’t an issue to be debated. Kashmir is an integral part of India and Prashant Bhushan agrees to it.”
Another party leader Dilip Pandey said, “Bhushan had meant something else when he had made that statement. He has issued a statement to clarify that his comments were taken out of context.” AAP leaders handed over a statement issued by Bhushan to clear the air. “There is considerable alienation of the people of Kashmir primarily because of human rights excesses by security forces who are immune to prosecution under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA),” said the statement.
“Any reference to referendum should not misconstrue to mean plebiscite on Kashmir’s relationship with India. It is the prerogative of the State to deploy security forces, including armed forces, for any stretch to internal and external security,” the statement released by the party said.