Congress lashes at BJP for exploiting militancy issue in Jammu and Kashmir

Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for growing incidents of violence in the Valley, Congress leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday said that the saffron party came to power by pitching militancy in the state, against the rest of the country.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led Congress delegation held an extended executive meeting in Srinagar.

Speaking at a conference here, Azad said, "One soldier was beheaded during the UPA government in Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists and the BJP exploited the issue to the hilt against the Congress. Such incidents have also taken place during Modi government and they do not talk about it now".

When asked if the Congress would engage in talks with separatist Hurriyat leaders, Azad said there are 45 political parties' names on the list, but Hurriyat's name is missing.

"I have seen the list of 45 political parties and other groups we will be meeting here, but I did not find Hurriyat in that list. Also, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has been speaking of a dialogue with all stakeholders to solve the Kashmir problem. But she is shying away from naming who these stakeholders are," he said.