Venkaiah Naidu: P Chidambaram’s remarks ‘opportunism’

Union information and broadcasting minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday dubbed Congress leader P. Chidambaram’s remarks on Kashmir as “political opportunism”, which “reflects a wish to unsettle an elected government”.

Accusing the Congress of being “callous” on sensitive issues, the minister said the Congress is speaking in different voices on strategic matters.

“What do you mean when you say Congress, National Conference and PDP should come together to form an alliance There is a democratically elected government in the state, you are suggesting to unsettle it to get political benefit,” Mr Naidu said.

Earlier, Mr Chidam-baram said Congress, NC and, if willing, PDP should come together to find a solution to stop the violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Naidu said the Congress is now distancing itself from the recent statements of Mr Chidam-baram and other leaders like Kapil Sibal and Salman Khurshid.

“It appears that the party is at odds with its ‘lawyers brigade’, on which its relied heavily when the party was in power.”

He also hit out at former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, saying

Mr Abdullah seems to be speaking in frustration. “He seems to have forgotten what happened in the state when he was in power when over a 100 people were killed during various protests.”

The I&B minister said the Congress is “consistently inconsistent” on its stand on Jammu and Kashmir, and Pakistan.

“It’s surprising why Congress leaders are aiding and abetting Pakistan, which is supporting and funding terrorism,” Mr Naidu said.