Explain what permanent solution to Kashmir issue means: Congress

Dubbing Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's use of the words "permanent solution" to the Kashmir issue as a disturbing and enigmatic formulation, the Congress on Monday asked him to explain the contours and calculations of the phraseology.

"The Minister has been making curious statements. He said 'we have come up with a permanent solution for Kashmir and that the initiative has begun'.

"This is an extremely enigmatic formulation. Will the Home Minister care to explain to the people what the contours and calculations of the phraseology are," said Congress Spokesperson Manish Tewari.

Rajnath Singh on Sunday asserted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government has found a "permanent solution" to the vexed Kashmir issue but there would be no compromise on the territorial integrity of India.

"The phraseology 'permanent solution' has extremely disturbing implications. History has been witness to the rather disastrous consequences of this permanent solution/final solution in action," said Tewari.

Tewari said: "Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has been giving interviews wherein she has been passionately advocating that the central government needs to engage with the Hurriyat and Pakistan."

"She went on to say that both these engagements are a part of the Agenda of Alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party. On the other hand, the BJP has been hell-bent on playing the jingoistic national card," he added.

The Congress leader said this ideologically incompatible alliance (between PDP and BJP) has driven Jammu and Kashmir to the edge.

"We would like to ask both parties that if there is so much of an ideological dissonance, if there is no agreement on the Agenda of Alliance, then why are they continuing in government together?" said Tewari.

"Why is the BJP not pulling out of the government if it doesn't want to listen to its own Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir? And conversely, why is the PDP continuing in the state government when the Centre doesn't pay any heed and is not interested in listening to what the Chief Minister has to say?" asked Tewari.

--IANS

sid/tsb/bg