Kejriwal opposes Bhushan's view, rejects referendum on army in Kashmir

However, he says that feelings of the local people should be taken into account

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday said there was "no question" of having a referendum on keeping the army in Jammu and Kashmir but the feeling of the locals must be respected.

"Deployment of army (in the Kashmir Valley) is a matter of internal security. There is no question of having a referendum on it," he said, distancing himself from party colleague Prashant Bhushan's views.

Bhushan had called for a referendum to decide whether or not the Indian Army should be deployed to deal with the separatist campaign in the Kashmir Valley.

Kejriwal, however, added: "The feelings of the local people should be taken into account, otherwise it will be a threat to democracy. But our party is not in favour of any referendum."

"It is very important for us to win the hearts and minds of the people and prevent alienation. For that, the first thing which needs to be done is to remove AFSPA, which gives Army immunity in human rights violations," Bhushan said in an interview to a TV channel.

Army's deployment for internal security purposes should be effected only with the consent of people, except in cases where the rights of minorities need to be protected, he added.

Bhushan, however, seemed to have moderated his earlier stand which had him reportedly favouring the separation of Kashmir if that was what was wanted by the people of the state.

He instead said that the separation of Kashmir Valley would be against the Indian Constitution and added that it may also cause harm to minorities like Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs who inhabit the state.

"Allowing the separation of Kashmir may lead to a problem where you have a separate state where minority rights are not protected by the constitution... Indian constitution protects minority rights," he said.