Congress backs Abdullah, Chidambaram, slams Centre for turning blind eye to Kashmir unrest

Endorsing National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah and former finance minister P. Chidambaram's stand on the prevailing Kashmir tension, the Congress on Saturday slammed the Centre for turning a blind eye to the turmoil churning in the Valley.

"Farooq Abdullah knows the youth of Kashmir and he has highlighted the reality and what Chidambaram had said is also right. Thankfully people like Chidambaram and Abdullah do exist in this world who don't mince their words and speak up the truth and thereby open a door so that government can take any strong decision," Congress leader Manishankar Aiyar told ANI.

Taking dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Aiyar said the former overlooked the tension prevailing in the Valley as he was busy promoting his demonetisation drive.

"Instead of taking any important decision regarding the tension prevailing in Valley, Modi government got busy in their demonetisation drive. Prime Minister Modi was so busy in making people fools that he did not even give any idea or solution to stop the ongoing turmoil in the V Valley," Aiyar added.

Aiyar also slammed Union Minister for Information and broadcasting Venkaiah Naidu for countering Abdullah and Chidambaram's statement while asserting that it clearly shows that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is still blind as they used to be in last year.

"People like Venkaiah turn blind eye even when they can see the harsh truth. I would term this as anti national," he added.

Chidambaram yesterday said that Kashmir was nearly lost for India because the Central government used brute force to quell dissent in the Valley while Abdullah asserted that the youth joining militant ranks are 'sacrificing their lives for freedom of the valley'.

However, earlier in the day, Venkaiah Naidu condemned the duo, branding them as anti-national and opportunist.