AAP & Pakistan on same page, says Arun Jaitley

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Arun Jaitley has lashed out at the AAP’s Prashant Bhushan for advocating a plebiscite on demilitarisation in J&K, saying the comments echo views of Pakistan and separatists.

"It is Pakistan which has been suggesting the demilitarisation of the valley. Some separatist groups have been echoing that demand. It is regrettable that a party like the AAP which nourishes national ambitions, should adopt a position hostile to India’s interests,” Jaitley said in a blog posting on Monday. Issues of national security “cannot be decided by populism or referendum", Jaitley said, adding, "They can only be decided on security considerations. Till such time the infrastructure of terror remains, the presence of the army in J& K is essential."

Congress too rejected Bhushan’s demand for a referendum in Kashmir. Party leader and union I&B minister Manish Tewari said, "Jammu and Kashmir is a very sensitive matter. It embodies and signifies the idea of India and commenting on it should be we thought. We need to be very careful before giving any reaction."