Taking strong exception to the Narendra Modi-led NDA government’s softened approach to Hurriyat leaders meeting Pakistani representatives, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said it “changes colours faster than a chameleon”.
An editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana said, “Hurriyat is now going to hold discussions with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, and the Centre has given such a special concession to the Huriyat leaders. Tomorrow, it is possible that Kashmir issue will be discussed with the likes of Masood Azhar, Dawood Ibrahim, and [26/11 mastermind Zaki-ur] Lakhvi too. The Centre’s volte-face on the Hurriyat is akin to calling the Ram temple in Ayodhya as Babri Masjid. When they change colours faster than a chameleon, people wonder how they do it.”
It went on to say that if the Congress had changed its position on the Kashmir issue, the BJP would have termed the party an agent of Pakistan, possibly stalled Parliament and preached about national security and national interest. “But Delhi has started mollycoddling the pro-Pak and anti-India Hurriyat leadership. Hurriyat is a clear separatist organisation. The Modi government till yesterday stated they will talk to Pakistan on all issues except Kashmir. Now, it has changed its position and has taken a weaker stand than the Congress regime,” the editorial said.
The changing position of the BJP government, it added, was evident from the fact that it stitched an alliance with the PDP and demanded the government make public it’s ‘secret pact’ with the Hurriyat. “At least we haven’t heard if Hurriyat has accepted Kashmir as an indivisible part of India and raised slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk. Then why has India changed its position on the Kashmir issue, and made Hurriyat a party to talks with Pakistan? Pakistan-supported terror attacks continue in the Kashmir Valley and Indian jawans continue to be martyred. The Hurriyat has never even condemned it,” the editorial said.
‘The Centre’s volte-face on the Hurriyat is akin to calling the Ram temple in Ayodhya as Babri Masjid’
