India's unity paramount, not terrorists' lives: Venkaiah Naidu

New Delhi, July 21: Accusing the Congress of playing "cheap politics" over Kashmir, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said the "unity and integrity of the country is paramount" and not the lives of terrorists.

"Our party (BJP) is committed to the security of the country. The unity and integrity of the country is paramount, not the lives of terrorists," Naidu said while briefing the media here on a number of issues, including the recent violence in Kashmir.

Naidu said the Congress was playing "cheap politics" over the Kashmir issue and "compromising national security".

He was referring to former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's comments in a TV interview that the "grand bargain" under which Kashmir acceded to India has not been honoured.

"People who are showing sympathy, and also writing columns, should understand the public sentiments in the country," the minister said.

IANS