Those who held power in Kashmir now adding fuel to fire: BJP

NEW DELHI: Accusing opposition parties of Jammu and Kashmir of trying to stoke the ongoing unrest in the Valley, BJP today said it was "unfortunate" that those who held power for long and are responsible for the problems in Kashmir, are now "adding fuel to the fire".

A day after a delegation of parties, including National Conference and Congress, led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met President Pranab Mukherjee and hit out at the Centre for not acknowledging that the Kashmir problem was "political" in nature, BJP said the meeting was nothing but a "photo-op exercise".

"It is very unfortunate that those parties who were long in power and due to whom the Kashmir problem persists, are now adding fuel to the fire there. Their meeting with the President was nothing but a photo-op exercise," its National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

Both NC and Congress had boycotted a meeting called by Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to Kashmir and also did not attend the August 15 ceremony in Srinagar in which Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti hoisted the national flag, he noted.

"There is a need for all political parties to speak in one voice to foil the conspiracy of Pakistan which is primarily responsible for the unrest," he said as he urged them to cooperate with the official efforts to restore peace in the Valley.

"People know that it is mistakes of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru which are behind the Kashmir problem," he claimed.

Sharma also targeted separatists and their sympathisers, saying they send their children abroad while encourage strife in the Valley which has destroyed the tourist season and hit the common man hard. "There is anger among people against them," he claimed.

Leaders of opposition parties from Jammu and Kashmir led by Omar Abdullah yesterday knocked at the doors of President Pranab Mukherjee, requesting him to urge the Centre in finding a solution "politically".