Separatists on Monday termed the statements of BJP brass, including Union Minister Rajnath Singh and party president Amit Shah, “negative and aimed to create war euphoria.”
Responding to Mr. Singh’s assertions that the “Kashmir issue will be resolved within a year,” Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani said, “a person running a state’s affairs should avoid negative and provocative remarks.”
‘Vote-bank politics’
Mr. Geelani said the BJP’s narrative on the Kashmir issue “is far from the reality” and “is aimed at vote-bank politics.” “They [the BJP leaders] are creating war euphoria. With each passing day, the situation is turning from bad to worse in J&K,” he said.
On BJP president Amit Shah’s remarks that the Kashmir problem was “limited to three and a half district,” Mr. Geelani said, “If they are confident and sure about their claim, then it is best to ascertain people’s verdict and hold a referendum in J&K. We will accept whatever the verdict people deliver.”
JKLF chief Yasin Malik, while seconding Mr. Geelani on holding a referendum, said, “Remarks like Kashmir movement is restricted to a few districts is laughable.”
NC’s criticism
National Conference’s provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani described Mr. Shah’s remarks as aimed at hoodwinking public.
“Everyone is aware of the political contours of the issue. Unfortunately, there are political forces known for raising false bogeys to hoodwink public. May I remind him that only the Anantnag parliamentary constituency where their joint PDP candidate literally ran away from the byelection is comprised of four districts,” said Mr. Wani. “Setting a one-year deadline won’t matter. What matters is initiating a result-oriented dialogue and efforts to resolve the issue,” he added.
State Congress president G.A. Mir said the BJP during 2014 Lok Sabha elections claimed that it would resolve the Kashmir issue if it got mandate. “Now, they are in government for the last three years and the worsening situation in the State is an open book before the world,” he said.
Mr. Mir alleged that the BJP had no policy on Kashmir. “Kashmir has never been BJP’s priority. The party uses Kashmir for vote bank at the national level,” he added.
