Why plebiscite was not held in J&K earlier, asks Kamal Haasan

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan has said a plebiscite could have been an option in Jammu and Kashmir earlier to foster peace and disagreed with calls for an immediate surgical strike to avenge the Pulwama killings.

Sharing some of his random thoughts on the Kashmir issue at an event here largely attended by students Sunday, the actor-cum-politician deprecated 'jihadists' being glorified in Pakistan.

He also indicated casualties can be avoided if the leadership of India and Pakistan "behaved properly".

"Why plebiscite - to get to know everyone's view - was not held there. Why it was not done.? what is their fear?. The country was ripped apart into two (India and Pakistan). Why don't you ask them (people of J & K) again, they (political leadership) won't do it."
On the recent killing of 40 CRPF jawans at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, he said:"If there is bleeding, the first job is to stop it...to talk immediately of surgery (indicating surgical strike was not an option) is... (pauses for a moment)."
In so called "Azad Kashmir," big posters on trains could be seen glorifying jihadists and "that is madness too."
India should not repeat such a madness and we have to "prove that India is far better country."
On the Pulwama attack, he said killing 40 CRPF personnel was 'heinous', "but considering that, if your parents tell you to not join the Army, just tell them that more people die in road accidents in Tamil Nadu than in the Army."
Citing a view that there was unemployment, he said "there are lot of opportunities in the Army. Whether we have the valour to join Army is the question."