Sushil Kumar Shinde invoking past to justify government's wrongdoings on Kashmir: Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo

JAMMU: Claiming the Centre has abdicated its responsibility on Kashmir in favour of the separatists, Panun Kashmir today said it was "ironic" that the UPA government was invoking the past to justify its wrongdoings.

" Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has tried to justify the faux pass by saying that such meetings (between separatists and Pakistani government officials) have taken place in the past also. It is ironic that the present government is justifying its wrongdoing citing the past," Panun Kashmir president Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said.

Addressing a conference of Panun Kashmir, an organisation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Chrungoo said it seemed that the government has abdicated its responsibility on the Kashmir issue in favour of the separatists.

"It is highly unfortunate that the Centre is displaying a complete policy paralysis in relation to the Indo-Pak affairs," he said.

The government has allowed an important multi-lateral conference of foreign ministers to be influenced by a motley group of separatists from Kashmir, he said, adding that the government has by its actions aided the government of Pakistan in raising the Kashmir issue again.

"If the government wants to raise the issue as a vote bank ploy, it is going to boomerang on them as the nationalist people of this country would never accept such disastrous dealings," Chrungoo said.

Another Panun Kashmir leader, M L Raina, said the release of separatist leaders, particularly Syed Ali Geelani, before the elections would have adverse impact on the democratic process as they are advocating for poll boycott in the state.

The central government needs to be very cautious over the recent moves of the separatist leaders as they have been in complete cohorts with the terror machinery operating from Pakistan, Raina said.