Chennai: “They claim Kashmir is stable. Is it? Does it mean stable if Indian media houses don’t cover the unrest in J&K?” questioned senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slamming the BJP-led central government over scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Former union minister said the Modi government had used muscle power in the Jammu and Kashmir issue and would not have taken away the special status had it been a Hindu-dominated State.
He further claimed that the State was witnessing unstable situation and while international news agencies were covering it, Indian media houses were not.
He also flayed the ruling regional parties ruling – AIADMK, YSRCP, TRS, BJD, AAP, TMC, JDU – in seven States did not cooperate against the BJP’s move in the Rajya Sabha out of fear.
Speaking at a public meeting, he said, “I know we do not have majority in Lok Sabha, but had the seven parties () cooperated, the opposition would have been in majority in RS. This is something disappointing.”
He further claimed that around 10,000 people protested in Soura. Police action was taken during it and even shootings happened during the protest.
Chidambaram pointed out that there has never been a Sate being reduced to a Union Territory in the 70-year history of the nation.
He further stated that there was no conflict between former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former home minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel. He said, “Patel was never an RSS functionary. They (BJP) don’t have any leader, they are stealing our leader. No matter who steals, history doesn’t forget to whom the product belongs.”
He also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for selectively talking about laws that do not apply to the State on the day he addressed the nation after abrogation of Article 370. He said he could list out 90 other laws that apply to the State.
He further termed Congress leaders who quit the party as of 18 carat quality, Chidambaram said only those still staying with the grand old party are of 22 and 24 carat quality.