BJP: Autonomy, no. More powers, yes.

Aug 12, 2010 - Age Correspondent |

New Delhi

Maintaining that it is opposed to the PM’s offer to consider autonomy for J&K within the ambit of the Constitution, the Opposit-ion BJP on Wednesday said autonomy for the state, if it reverses the state’s integration with the country, will not be tolerated. The party said it is not opposed to giving “more powers” to the state. The BJP criticised the PM for “reigniting” the autonomy debate and termed it “unfortunate”.

Senior BJP leader Ravi-shankar Prasad said, “The PM will have to explain what he meant by autonomy, and with what intention he has said this. If autonomy means reversing the process of integration of Kashmir into India, then this is unacceptable to us.” BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said, “There cannot be autonomy within the country but there can be more powers to the state once it is agreed upon between the Centre and the state. That can be discussed.”

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