Congress Leaders Attack BJP Over Scrapping Of Article 370 In Jammu & Kashmir; Ruling Party Hits Back

Senior Congress leaders have leveled attack at the Bharatiya Janata Party over the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories, prompting a stern criticism from the ruling party.

Images: PTI

New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders have leveled attack at the Bharatiya Janata Party over the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories, prompting a stern criticism from the ruling party. While senior party leader P Chidambaram on Sunday alleged that the party scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir as the region is “dominated” by Muslims, Mani Shankar Aiyar likened the situation to that of Palestine. In his remark Chidambaram also alleged that the BJP-led NDA government would not have taken the bold decision had Jammu and Kashmir been a "Hindu-dominated" state. He said that said that in the 70-year history of the nation, there has never been an example of a state being reduced to a Union Territory and it has always been the reverse. His remark was condemned by the ruling party on Monday as "provocative and irresponsible". While Law Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress leader of making a very irresponsible and provocative statement, BJP leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, also a Union minister, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the opposition party was giving a communal angle to Kashmir issue. Defending the Centre's decision taken last Monday, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it has rectified a very big mistake made decades ago by the Congress. Aiyar accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of “creating Palestine on the northern border of the country.” Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh had also said a day ago that the Centre needs to act "thoughtfully" or else "Kashmir will slip out of our hands". Reacting to Chidambaram and Digivijay’s remarks, Sushil Modi , senior BJP leader of Bihar tweeted “Unfortunately, former finance minister P Chidambaram and Digvijay Singh are trying to incite Muslim community against the government on the issue (of Jammu and Kashmir).”