BJP misfit in Kashmir, contributed to violence: Azad

Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday lashed out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying the party was a "misfit" for Jammu and Kashmir and blamed it for the current violence in the state where more than 40 people have died in clashes.

"The current Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-BJP coalition government is a contributing factor in the current situation in Kashmir. BJP is a misfit and will take ages to create its space in the sensitive area," Azad said during a short duration discussion in the house on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

"It took us (the Congress government) and other governments, 70 years to try and bring peace to Kashmir. We had a healing touch policy towards people but this government makes no difference between treating common people and militants," he said.

Azad quoted former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's statement where he had said that he "learnt" from his "mistakes".

"We knew the difference between militants and civilians. There were bad situations during the regime also but we dealt with it carefully," he added.

Azad, a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir blamed the current government for using "excessive force" which led to the killings of dozens and injuries of thousands of people.

"Government should look at people as they look at their own children..but the situation in the hospitals which are full of injured people narrate it all".

He questioned the government for using "excessive force" to disperse the mobs protesting the death of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani and asked "why were the protesters in Haryana treated differently than in Kashmir".