BJP questions PM’s remark over Kashmir’s autonomy
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The BJP on Wednesday said the Prime Minister’s offer to consider autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir within the ambit of Constitution was “unacceptable” to it if it reverses the state’s integration with the country.
Party leaders also said there cannot be “autonomy” within the country but there can be “more powers” to the state.
“The Prime Minister 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, this is unacceptable to us,” BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters outside Parliament.
Stating that the BJP was also opposed to Article 370 providing special status to the state, he said the views of people of Jammu and Ladakh also have to be kept in mind while analysing the issue.
Commenting on the issue, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said, “What is there in the Prime Minister’s mind, we should know about that. 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.”
Demanding a detailed discussion on the issue, he said, “Whenever there is specific proposal from the Prime Minister, the party will think and discuss it at the appropriate forum.”
Mr Naidu added that the BJP was open to any discussion on the issue within the constitutional framework of the country and without compromising its integrity.
“Nothing should be done directly or indirectly which should affect the integration of the state with the country,” he said.
On the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the BJP leader said, “We are of the opinion that it (the Act) is very much required to maintain security in Jammu and Kashmir and there should be no compromise on that.”
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