Congress must not play politics on issues of national interest: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Rajnath Singh earlier on Wednesday arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to Kashmir during which he will review the situation there

Retorting to former defence minister A K Antony's assertion that the Centre should not blame Pakistan every time for the unrest in Kashmir and initiate a political dialogue for a solution, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mikhail Abbas Navy on Wednesday said the Congress leaders should not give such irresponsible statements, adding the opposition should not politicise issues of national interest.

"A K Antony is a senior leader and he should not talk like this. And why should we not blame Pakistan? Whom should we blame, the Congress? The way Pakistan is backing terrorism, the way it has become a den of the separatists and the terrorists. Pakistan is producing terrorists. The whole world has now accepted all these facts and the Congress is not ready to accept this, it is not fine. A K Antony should not give such irresponsible statements," said Naqvi.

"The whole nation is standing united. The people of Kashmir want peace and prosperity; they want their state to keep moving on the development path. And if the Congress is politicising the issue in this hour of crisis then it is not good. The opposition party should not play around issues of national concern," he added.

Asserting that Kashmir which is on boil from the last month needs a political solution, Antony on Tuesday said always blaming the Pakistani military and not taking proper action is not good, adding that the government must start a political dialogue to find a political solution to the crisis.

"Kashmir needs a political solution. As a first step, the government must send an all-party delegation and then start a political dialogue to find a political solution. We can't delay it anymore. The government must start acting on war footing. At any cost we must win hearts of the people, especially the youth, of the Kashmir Valley," said Antony.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh earlier on Wednesday arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to Kashmir during which he will review the situation in the valley.

Singh, who may hold talks with a cross section of people, is likely to emphasise the various development projects and employment schemes undertaken for the youth in the Valley.

The Home Minister earlier tweeted that he would interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders in Kashmir.

"I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he tweeted.

This is the Home Minister's second visit in a month to the valley, which has been witnessing unrest since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

The visit comes following Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing deep concern and pain over the situation in Kashmir.