Sena slams BJP on sharing power with PDP in J&K

The party said that BJP would not only be burning its fingers, but it could also cause trouble for the country as a whole

Slamming BJP for tying up with PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, ally Shiv Sena today said the saffron party will not only be burning its fingers by joining the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government but it could also cause trouble for the country as a whole.

"The BJP may be burning its fingers by its decision to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir with the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Not only that, we are seeing signs that this alliance might get India into trouble as well," the Sena's official organ 'Saamana' said in an editorial today.

The Sena mouthpiece also called for the Narendra Modi Government to condemn in Parliament the statement by Sayeed giving credit for peaceful conduct of Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls to separatists and Pakistan.

In a veiled reference to Modi, the Saamana editorial said people who are aware of Sayeed's background would be wary of having 'Chai pe Charcha' and shaking hands with him.

It added that by crediting the Hurriyat and "people from across the border" for the peaceful election in Jammu and Kashmir, "Sayeed has proved that he is not a nationalist."

"Sayeed's party has demanded that remains of Afzal Guru be brought back to the Valley even before the controversy over his comments has died down. Even (BJP General Secretary) Ram Madhav, who conducted the ministry-forming talks with Sayeed couldn't stop his rants," Sena said.

It alleged that Sayeed had, in the past, not left any opportunity to demand Kashmir's partition and that he had staged the drama of the kidnap of his daughter for the release of Pakistani terrorists.

"In the last 40-50 years, Sayeed has never missed a chance to demand an independent Kashmir whenever he got the opportunity. While he was the Home Minister (in the National Front ministry), the government had to release Pakistani terrorists in exchange for his daughter who was kidnapped.

"It later turned out that Sayeed had enacted the kidnapping of his own daughter for their release," the editorial said.

"If Sayeed continues with his rants, India will have to pay a heavy price for it. Article 370 of the Constitution needs to be scrapped and the government should state in Parliament in clear terms that it disagrees with Sayeed's statements," the Sena added.