Congress slams Mustafa Kamal's 'separatist mindset'

The Congress on Sunday condemned National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal's statement that neither India nor Pakistan loves the people of the Kashmir Valley, saying it projects his separatist mentality.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said at times the statements made by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also show anti-national traits.

"Most of the people in PDP have the same mentality. At times, Mufti ji's and Mehbooba ji's statements show anti-national sides. We have been saying that the friendship between the PDP and the BJP is just a political friendship. BJP will gradually suffer due to its alliance with the PDP," Dikshit told ANI.

Echoing similar sentiments, another Congress leader P.L. Punia dubbed Kamal's statement as irresponsible

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"Why will Pakistan be bothered about them? But India has always fulfilled the needs of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India," said Punia.

Kamal had yesterday stoked a controversy with his remark that neither India nor Pakistan loves the people of the valley.

"By heart, both of them do not treat us as their own. Neither India nor Pakistan loves us ... In my opinion, Allah has destined independence for us and we will get it," Kamal said in Srinagar after paying tributes to his father and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his 110th birth anniversary.