Shiv Sena, BJP’s alliance partner in the state government, has lambasted its stand of allowing Hurriyat leaders to speak with Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute. The Centre’s U-turn is akin to saying the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is Babri Masjid, the Sena said in its mouthpiece Saamana on Wednesday. The Sena has also demanded that its ally disclose its “secret agreement” with the Hurriyat.

“Hurriyat will now discuss Kashmir with Pakistan. The Centre has given special permission for that. Next, there will be discussions with Masood Azhar, Dawood Ibrahim and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. We never thought that the dream of a united India would go this way. The Centre’s U-turn is as good as saying the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is Babri Masjid. The Centre’s changing colours would bring shame even to a chameleon.”

Further criticising its partner, the Sena said if the Congress had done the same thing, the party would have been labelled as an “agent of Pakistan.”

“It is sad that pro-Pakistan and anti-India Hurriyat has been pampered by the Centre. Modi was so far insisting that a discussion with Pakistan was possible but not on the issue of Kashmir. The incumbent government has taken a softer stand than the Congress on the issue,” the Sena edit said.

However, the party said that one should not wonder at the move as BJP had joined hands with PDP in Kashmir. “Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was given Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Peace award a few days ago. If the next award is given to Masood Azhar then the country should accept it. The secret pact signed with the Hurriyat should be disclosed,” it added.

The edit also reminded the BJP that the Hurriyat never condemned the killing of Indian soldiers by Pakistani militants even once.