The Government on Sunday came out hard against the Congress and its senior leader P Chidambaram for batting for Jammu & Kashmir’s autonomy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the main Opposition party of “shamelessly speaking the language of the separatists and Pakistan.”
For his part, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was in Shimla to release the BJP’s manifesto, said the Congress doesn’t understand Kashmir and the autonomy remarks were “unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, the Congress has sought to distance itself from P Chidambaram’s statement terming it a “personal opinion” and maintaining that the party believes that the solution for lasting peace and prosperity for J&K lies solely within the framework of the Constitution.
Modi, who was on a day-long whirlwind tour of poll-bound Karnataka, said, “Those in power till yesterday are taking a U-turn all of a sudden and shamelessly raising their voice for autonomy in Kashmir. Why are Congress leaders lending their voice to those who want Azaadi in KashmirIJ Congress will have to answer for the recent statement of their leaders on Kashmir. This is unacceptable.”
Modi was speaking to party workers in Bengaluru at the old airport.
Without taking Chidambaram’s name, the Prime Minister said, “I’m surprised that those who were in power at the Centre, those who were responsible for the country’s internal security and national security (are saying this). Can the country benefit from such people who are playing politics on the sacrifice of our soldiersIJ The country has no hope of development from the Congress.”
Meanwhile, in Srinagar, the National Conference passed a resolution vowing to continue its struggle for restoration of autonomy to J&K in its “original, pristine form”. It also asked both India and Pakistan to initiate a “sustained and comprehensive” dialogue to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio.
Noting that Sardar Patel took important decisions for the country’s unity, the Prime Minister said thousands of jawans had sacrificed their lives for Kashmir and he would not allow any compromise on the vital issue of security of the country.
Chidambaram had on Saturday said that when people of the Valley ask for “azaadi”, they meant they want greater autonomy. He asked the Government to seriously consider granting greater autonomy to J&K as it is perfectly within the Constitution of India.
Modi also used the occasion to hit out at the Congress over surgical strikes, corruption and the Doklam imbroglio. “When the surgical strikes happened it was a moment of pride for the whole of India but the Congress could not stomach it. Now, I understand after the recent comments of its leaders why the Congress was upset with the surgical strike,’’ he said.
“The sacrifice of the brave, the diplomatic capabilities of India and the courage of India the entire world saw in Doklam. However powerful the opposition may be, India stands firm. Today when the world is watching India with respect these same Congress people are spreading fake news about Doklam,’’ he said, adding, “They are separated from the hopes and aspirations of the country”.
On corruption in development funds, the Prime Minister did not name the Congress, but said it was the “hand” that reduced every rupee of Government money to 15 paise before it reached the beneficiaries.
He also gave a call to the people of Karnataka saying, “It looks like Karnataka can’t wait for the polls. like other States, Karnataka wants to join the development path. I’m confident Karnataka will be integrated into the nation’s development.” The Assembly election is due early next year in Karnataka.