Desist from adventurism for political interests: PDP to BJP

Srinagar, Jun 8 (UNI) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today expressed dismay over the satyagraha launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against recent incidents in Doda and asked it to desist from adventurism for partisan political interests that could jeopardise the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement here, PDP General Secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir said care should be taken by political parties to avoid indiscreet steps that could result in communal polarisation in the state.

He said the situation warranted cohesive strategy, cutting across the party lines, to consolidate the gains of the fragile peace process instead of vitiating the atmosphere.

''Instead of trying to communally polarise the situation and aggravate the problems of the state and the country, our effort should be to launch a joint war against the elements perpetrating violence,'' Mr Mir added.

He said even during the NDA regime, massacres took place at Nadimarg, Chapnari, Chattisinghpora and various other places and violent incidents did occur across the state.

Mr Mir also expressed surprise over the statement of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee demanding abrogation of Article 370 that confers special status to Jammu and Kashmir. ''Such a sweeping statement from a statesman like Mr Vajpayee is highly regrettable,'' he added.

The PDP leader said Mr Vajpayee is remembered as a pioneer of the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan.

''It was Mr Vajpayee who as the Prime Minister advocated going beyond the beaten track to resolve the Kashmir issue. Unfortunately, he also seems to have adopted a hawkish stance while being in the opposition,'' he added.

Mr Mir said such a stance by a responsible opposition party could harm the ongoing peace process and reverse its gains.

He advised the BJP against repeating the mistakes of the past vis-a-vis a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir, saying the hawkish rhetoric about Article 370 has always created trouble not only for the state, but the country as well.

UNI AG ARB HT2010