J&K Crisis Due to Omission & Commission by Cong: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh lashed out at Congress leader P Chidambaram over his remarks on Kashmir’s autonomy, saying the present situation in the Valley was due to the "acts of omission and commission" by his party while in power at the Centre as well as in Jammu and Kashmir."The kind of situation we are facing in Kashmir today is a cumulative outcome of the acts of omission and commission by Chidambaram's party, which has been in power for 50 of the 70 years after Independence, both at the Centre and in the state," Singh, the Minister of State in the PMO, told reporters."I don't think the nation allows a former home minister the privilege to deliver sermons on his own acts of omission and commission," Singh added.After facing severe criticism from the BJP, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram had earlier said that the ruling party should have fully read his comments on autonomy for Kashmir before criticising him. Posting a link to a news report about his remarks on Saturday, 28 October, at an event in Rajkot, Chidambaram tweeted:Chidambaram said, “When people in Jammu and Kashmir ask for 'azadi', they seek autonomy.”We must consider areas to give autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. It’ll remain part of India, but will have larger powers as promised under Article 370.P Chidambaram, Congress leaderThe Opposition leader’s remarks received stern reaction from the BJP, while the Congress steadily distanced itself from Chidambaram for deviating from the party line.Chidambaram Speaks About Breaking the Union of India: Smriti IraniTextiles and I&B Minister Smriti Irani said that it is “shocking and disgusting” that Chidambaram speaks about “breaking the union of India”.Irani also tweeted that she is “not surprised given that their leader supported ‘Bharat tere tukde honge' slogan!”BJP leader Subramanian Swamy also slammed Chidambaram for his comment: “Since he is about to land in jail soon, he is talking like a traitor. He is talking like this so that some people from Kashmir cry for him when he is sent to jail”, he said speaking to ANI. Contrary to National Interest: Arun JaitleyFinance Minister Arun Jaitley hit out at Chidambaram, saying that Congress' position in regard to autonomy goes contrary to India's national interest.“Kashmir problem is a Congress legacy. Instead of learning from its past mistakes, Congress wants to precipitate a crisis further by encouraging separatism,” Jaitley said.He further added that the Congress should clarify if Chidambaram's statement is the party's official stand.Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Sambit Patra said that the Congress is responsible for what Kashmir is being discussed today.From Nehru to Chidambaram, we have seen the confused hypocrisy of the Congress party as far as Kashmir is concerned. They are the one who has plunged Kashmir into the kind of situation that we are discussing today. Today P Chidambaram lending his voice to the ‘azadi’ brigade is something, which the Congress party has to come out and explain. BJP leader Sambit PatraAsserting a similar viewpoint, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said, "The statement is unfortunate. Many people from Kashmir raise this issue on Pakistan's provocation, but former Union Minister P Chidambaram talking about it is utterly unfortunate. He should know that 'azadi' does not mean autonomy."Congress Distances Itself, Points Finger Back at BJPTaking a different stand from Chidambaram's remark on Jammu and Kashmir, Congress on Sunday said the state is an integral part of India and will always remain so.While individuals may have different personal opinions, Congress believes that the solution for lasting peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir lies solely within the framework of Constitution. Opinion of an individual is not necessarily the opinion of the Congress party. In our democracy, individuals are entitled to opinions. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh SurjewalaThe Congress also slammed the Narendra Modi government for not having any clear-cut policy to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir and also tackle terrorism.“Forty-one months of NDA-BJP regime has seen the situation deteriorate rapidly with terrorism on the rise, border ceasefire violations at an all-time high and our security forces valiantly fighting the onslaught of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on a daily basis, said Surjewala speaking to IANS.A power hungry coalition of PDP-BJP in Jammu and Kashmir has utterly failed to restore normalcy in the state with BJP government at the Centre having no clear-cut policy either on tackling terrorism or on restoration of normalcy in the state. Congress has always worked towards providing equal development, equal financial allocation and equal opportunities to the three regions of state of Jammu and Kashmir. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh SurjewalaHe added that the ten years the UPA-Congress government was in power was a watershed moment in restoring normalcy, promoting economic activity, infrastructural development and tourism, engaging with the people within the framework of the Constitution and fighting terrorism/militancy decisively.J&K Interlocutor Supports ChidambaramFormer interlocutor on Jammu & Kashmir issues, MM Ansari on Sunday backed Congress leader P Chidambaram's comment on Jammu and Kashmir by saying that there is no harm in extending the demands of autonomy in the state.The Kashmiri people are simply asking for autonomy which was agreed upon way back in 1952 that needs to be restored. I think there is no harm in extending to the demands of autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir as per the agreement made in 1952.So what Mr Chidambaram has said I think is based on the regular demands of the Kashmiris. MM Ansari I Would Have Quit If Forced to Implement Note Ban: ChidambaramAssailing PM Narendra Modi over demonetisation, P Chidambaram said he would have quit as finance minister if forced to implement the measure.Also Watch: Taj Mahal Haters Don’t Know Indian History or Culture: ChidambaramHe also targeted Modi over “hasty” implementation of the GST, and his pet bullet train project.If my prime minister had asked me to do demonetisation, I would have advised him ‘please don’t’, and if he had insisted, then I would have resigned.Noting that demonetisation and “rushing through with the GST were two major mistakes” of the Modi government, he said, “demonetisation was a bad idea, full stop. GST is a good idea, but it has been hastily implemented. It should have been implemented with due care and attention.”Pitching for a cap on the GST at 18 per cent, the former minister flayed multiple slabs in the rate structure.(With inputs from wires)

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J&K Crisis Due to Omission & Commission by Cong: Jitendra Singh

“When people in Jammu and Kashmir ask for ‘azadi’, they seek autonomy,” Chidambaram had said.

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