Cong asks BJP to 'come clean' over Mehbooba's remarks on Wani

The Congress today challenged the BJP to "come clean" on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's statement yesterday on the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Buhan Wani by security forces.
"PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beig had said the Chief Minister was not aware of the encounter. Now, the Chief Minister says that had the forces known that Burhan Wani was there, he could have been given a second chance. The BJP should clear its stand on the Chief Minister's statement," Congress Jammu and Kashmir general secretary Vikram Malhotra told reporters here.
He said the BJP, which used to advocate dealing with the insurgency in Kashmir with an "iron hand", should come out with a clarification regarding the Chief Minister's statement that the "sacrifice of the youth killed will not go waste".

"The BJP says it was a statement made in personal capacity. How can that be when she is the Chief Minister of the state heading a coalition government with the BJP?" asked Malhotra, adding that Mehbooba's statement has to be regarded as the official stand of the Jammu and Kashmir government.
"Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh should tell the people of the state what does 'giving safe passage to Burhan Wani' mean. BJP leaders, who always opposed talks with separatists, should come clean on what have they been doing when in a coalition with the PDP," said Malhotra.
Mehbooba had told reporters yesterday that had the security forces known of Wani's presence in the house in Kokernag area of south Kashmir's Anantnag district, it would have been possible to keep the situation "from turning to what it is today."

"I feel, if they (security forces) knew, perhaps we would not have such a situation when the overall situation in the state was improving, so it could have been a chance," she had said.