Consider Giving Greater Autonomy To Jammu & Kashmir, Says Chidambaram
When people of Jammu & Kashmir ask for ‘azadi’ they actually seek autonomy: Chidambaram
Congress leader P Chidambaram pitched for greater autonomy for the restive Jammu and Kashmir yet again today, drawing stinging criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"The demand in the Kashmir valley is to respect the letter and spirit of Article 370, that means they want greater autonomy. My interactions in J&K led me to the conclusion that when they ask for azadi, mostly, I am not saying all... the overwhelming majority, they want autonomy," Chidambaram told reporters in Rajkot.
"Yes, I do," Chidambaram said when he was asked if he still thinks that Jammu and Kashmir should be given greater autonomy.
Chidambaram had in July 2016 advocated greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir, saying India should restore the "grand bargain" under which Kashmir had acceded by granting a large degree of autonomy to it. He had warned that otherwise the country will have to pay a "heavy price".
Reacting sharply, the BJP said, it was not surprising to see Chidambaram make such comments given his leader supported those who gave slogan of "Bharat tere tukde honge", an apparent reference to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi backing those who protested the arrest of student leader Kanhaiya Kumar in the Jawaharlal Nehru University row.
"Shocking that PC bats for separatists & 'azadi' but then not surprising given that their leader supported 'Bharat tere tukde honge' naara," Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani tweeted.
Chidambaram said the question of greater autonomy should be "seriously examined" and it should be considered in which areas it could be granted.
"It's (autonomy) perfectly within the Constitution of India. Jammu and Kashmir will remain an integral part of India but it will have larger powers as promised under Article 370," he said.
In Srinagar, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav alleged that the Kashmiri people and the whole country "are bearing the brunt of the mistakes" that were committed by Chidambaram and the Congress government.
