Congress corners Rajnath Singh over his visit to J&K

Jammu, Sep 10: The Congress on Monday cornered Union Home Minister over his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, saying that Rajnath rushed to the state only after the Congress announced its schedule.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir and the NDA-led Centre had taken the state back to 1990s when the law and order situation was at its worst.

"Since the BJP came to power in New Delhi and formed the coalition government with PDP in J and K, the situation has gone back to 1990s period. Jammu and Kashmir has slipped into the worst 1990 situation now," he told reporters here after former prime minister Manmohan Singh-led policy planning group of Congress on Kashmir met over 30 delegations to assess the situation in the Valley.

The group was set up by the Congress in April this year after the situation worsened in the Valley due to widespread violence by protesters following the death of eight persons in firing by security forces during the by-polls to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

"Congress wishes to visit all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir to review and study the ground situation during BJP and PDP rule," Azad said.

On being asked why the Congress delegation followed Union minister Rajnath Singhs meeting to J&K, Azad said, "Our programme was announced 15 days back. It has nothing to do with Rajnath Singhs visit to the state.

"After Congress' announcement, the home minister who didn't have four hours for the state has come here on a four-day visit. But, it is going to make no impact," he said.

PTI