Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: State BJP spokesperson, Prof. Virender Gupta strongly criticized the statement of former Home Minister, P. Chidambaram advocating restoring the “Grand Bargain” under which Kashmir acceded to India by granting a large degree of autonomy, warning that otherwise the country will have to pay “heavy Price”.
Prof Gupta said the P. Chidambaram formula is dangerous for the integrity of the country and has serious repercussions. He further said that it looks that P. Chidambaram has a little knowledge about Jammu and Kashmir State and the circumstance under which Jammu and Kashmir acceded to Indian Union. He added that it was Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir who signed the Instrument of Accession, of course, that was endorsed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who was a popular leader only of Kashmir Valley but had no following in Jammu and Ladakh regions and said that no condition was attached at the time of accession by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
He further said that Mr. Chidambaram, though, remained Home Minister of India is ignorant of the geography, demography, psyche and aspirations of the people of all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir State.
Prof. Virender said that Kashmir is not Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir constitutes merely about 15 percent area of Jammu and Kashmir State, that is presently with India whereas it has population less than 50 percent of the State’s total Population. He further said that, People of Jammu and Ladakh regions are against granting any autonomy to the State, instead they plead for removal of Article 370 and consider it as hindrance in the progress and development of the State and bringing the people of Kashmir into National mainstream and added that the Article contributed in the alienation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir State.