Centre extending militaristic approach to northeast: Chidambaram

Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Saturday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against Meghalaya Governor Tathagat Roy over his remarks to boycott Kashmiri goods. He said that the Central government was extending its "muscular, militaristic approach" to the northeast which it failed to show in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said: "Waiting to see if the Prime Minister will take action against the Governor of Meghalaya."

His remarks came days after Roy made a controversial tweet urging people to boycott goods prepared and manufactured by Kashmiris, in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy that killed 40 troopers.

"An appeal from a retired colonel of the Indian Army: Don't visit Kashmir, don't go to Amarnath for the next 2 years. Don't buy articles from Kashmir emporia or Kashmiri tradesman who come every winter. Boycott everything Kashmiri. I am inclined to agree," Roy tweeted on February 19.

"When the cry is for more humane and just laws, government allows Assam Rifles to search and arrest without warrant," Chidambaram said.

"This is the extension of the muscular, militaristic approach to the Northeast. This approach failed in Kashmir, it will fail in the northeastern states," the former Finance Minister added.

--IANS

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