Srinagar: Less a week after Prime Minister Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed former Home Minister P Chidambaram’s call for greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir as an “insult” to India’s soldiers, Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said that Article 370 was the “nation’s commitment to the people of J&K and therefore should be honoured.
“Article 370 is the nation’s commitment to the people of J&K and therefore should be honoured, “Mehbooba twitted.
Terming democracy as a “battle of ideas and dialogue only way forward”, Mehbooba said that the Prime Minister with “unprecedented mandate can create history by changing the narrative on J&K.”
On October 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on congress party after former home minister and senior leader of the grand old party P Chidambaram backed greater autonomy for J&K.
“Why are Congress leaders lending their voice to those who want Azadi in Kashmir. This is an insult to our brave soldiers,” Modi had said while addressing a gathering at the Dashamah Soundarya Lahari Parayanotsava Mahasarmapane in Bengaluru.
Criticising Chidambaram’s stance on Kashmir, Modi had said such statements “undermine the armed forces achievements like carrying out surgical strikes.”
“Statement of a Congress leader on Kashmir clearly shows how the party feels on surgical strikes and bravery of our Army,” Modi had said, while describing Chidambaram’s statement as “unacceptable.”
Last Saturday, P Chidambaram had reiterated his earlier stance backing greater autonomy: “Yes…. The demand in Kashmir Valley is to respect in letter and spirit Article 370. And that means that they want greater autonomy. My interactions in Jammu and Kashmir led me to the conclusion that when they ask for azaadi (independence), most people —- I am not saying all —- (an) overwhelming majority want autonomy. Therefore, I think we should seriously examine that question and consider on what areas we can give autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.”
Pointing out that granting such autonomy will be “perfectly within the Constitution of India”, the Congress leader had said, “Jammu and Kashmir will remain an integral part of India but it will have larger powers as promised under Article 370”.
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