on PC's Kashmir remark(Eds: With a minor change in para 3)New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) The Congress today sought todistance itself from the remarks of former Union minister PChidambaram on Jammu and Kashmir, saying the "opinion of anindividual is not necessarily the opinion of the party".
Chidambaram pitched for greater autonomy for the restiveJammu and Kashmir yet again today, drawing stinging criticismfrom the BJP, with Union minister Smriti Irani calling it"shocking and shameful".
Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewalatold reporters here that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral partof India and "will always remain so unquestionably".
Asked about Chidambaram's remarks, he said, "The opinionof an individual is not necessarily the opinion of the IndianNational Congress. In our democracy, individuals are entitledto their opinion."The Congress has always believed that dialogue is the wayforward for restoration of normalcy in the state, but it canonly be within the framework of our Constitution, Surjewalasaid.
He said the party had constituted a policy-planning groupunder the chairmanship of former prime minister Manmohan Singhto carry forward the peace initiative in the state.
The group will visit Jammu and Kashmir, particularly theKargil and Ladakh regions, between November 10 and 12.
Once the group concludes its deliberations, it willsubmit a report and share feedback and experience withCongress president Sonia Gandhi, he said.
"So, it would be wrong to prejudge the issue," he said.
The Congress spokesperson hit out at the governments atthe Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir over their handling of thesituation in the state and asked the ruling parties "tointrospect" on the issue.
He recalled "how terrorist Masood Azhar was released andtaken to Kandahar" in Afghanistan after an Indian Airlinesflight was hijacked during the Atal Bihari Vajpayeegovernment.
Whereas, 10 years of the Congress-led UPA governmentproved to be a watershed in restoring normalcy, promotingeconomic activity, tourism and infrastructural development,engaging with the people within the framework of theConstitution and fighting terrorism and militancy decisively,he said.
Surjewala also asked the BJP government to list the stepsit has taken to restore normalcy and peace in the state andits roadmap to ensure development there. PTI ENMGVS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
