BJP objects Mehbooba's call for 'self-rule'

Jammu, Feb 26 (UNI) The BJP today objected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti's call for 'self-rule' in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the UPA goverment to reject the suggestion.

Addressing mediapersons after meeting state unit functionaries here, BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitely rejected the self-rule idea of Ms Mehbooba, which was made in the first-ever all party roundtable conference on Kashmir, convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday, saying that it neither means 'autonomy' nor 'devolution of power' and is beyond the constitutional framework of the country.

Since PDP is in coalition with the Congress in the state government, the UPA Government as well as the Congress should reject the view of 'self-rule', Mr Jaitely added.

He said the central government has not done 'proper homework' about the Kashmir issue but added that the dialogue process to solve the issue must continue.

The BJP supported the decision of the Prime Minister to convene the round-table conference, he noted.

The people from Jammu and Ladakh and Kashmiri pandits should also get opportunity to voice their opinion in the dialogue process, he added.

UNI HGV PG PM1830