Congress, BJP corner AAP on J&K; Kejriwal distances himself from Prashant Bhushan's comments

NEW DELHI: Distancing himself from party leader Prashant Bhushan's remarks, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said, "We dont agree with what Prashant Bhushan said about Kashmir. It is his personal view."

"Deployment of the army within the country should be decided on the basis of internal security threat. There is no question of a referrundum on this. But we believe the sentiments of locals should be respected. Otherwise democracy will be under threat," he told reporters when asked about Bhushan's comments on the issue yesterday.

He said, "AAP does not support referendum on such issues."
Both Congress and BJP have demanded answers from AAP for Bhushan's comments on J&K. Slamming Bhushan's comments, BJP's Nirmala Sitaraman said that AAP must clarify its stand on national issues.

"How can anyone even have the courage to say all this on the issue of Kashmir? Its anti-national," hit out BJP's Harsh Vardhan. BJP leader Arun Jaitley said, "It is regrettable that for a party like the Aam Aadmi Party which nourishes national ambitions, should adopt a position hostile to India's interests."

Senior AAP leader Prashant Bhushan sparked a controversy by calling for a referendum in Kashmir to decide whether or not the Indian Army should be deployed to deal with internal threats in the valley.

"People should be asked whether they want the army to handle the internal security of Kashmir. Any decision which does not have the backing of the people is undemocratic. If people feel that the army is violating human rights and they say they don't want the army to be deployed for their security then the army should be withdrawn from the hinterland," Bhushan said in an interview to a TV channel.

"The government can decide if the Army needs to be deployed to deal with external threats along the border. The government can also decide if the army needs to be kept to help protect the minorities in the valley. But there should be a referendum on whether people want AFSPA to continue in the valley or not," he added.

Asked what would happen if the referendum suggested that the people of Kashmir wanted to leave India, senior AAP leader Bhushan said, "Secession from India is unconstitutional. We have to find solutions within the purview of the constitution. We have to win the hearts of people in the valley who have moved away from the mainstream since they feel that they army has been deployed in Kashmir against their wishes and is violating their human rights."