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Centre has taken maximalist position on Kashmir: Congress

The former Union home minister said the Kashmir issue is “a festering wound” and the people of the Valley are caught between “two maximalist positions” taken by the central government and militants.

Updated on: Jul 16, 2017, 13:31:09 IST
Press Trust of India, New Delhi | By
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Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram alleged on Sunday that the Centre has taken a “maximalist” position on Kashmir and “aggravated” the problem in the Valley.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram’s remarks came two days after the Centre briefed opposition parties on the stand-off with China and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of an attack on Amarnath pilgrims. (Reuters File Photo)
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram’s remarks came two days after the Centre briefed opposition parties on the stand-off with China and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of an attack on Amarnath pilgrims. (Reuters File Photo)

His remarks came two days after the Centre briefed opposition parties on the stand-off with China and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of an attack on Amarnath pilgrims.

The former Union home minister said the Kashmir issue is “a festering wound” and the people of the Valley are caught between “two maximalist positions” taken by the central government and militants.

The casualties are the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the future of the state, he said in a series of tweets.

“Just as the militants have taken a maximalist position that has to be rejected out of hand, the Central government has taken a maximalist position that has aggravated the problem,” he said.

The senior Congress spokesperson posted on Twitter that on many occasions in the past, he had “cautioned that the Kashmir issue or problem (or by whatever name it is called) was a festering wound”.

The Opposition has been blaming the Centre and the PDP- BJP government in the state for the unrest and violence in the Kashmir Valley since the death of Hizbul leader Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces last year.

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