Centre’s maximalist stand aggravating J&K problem, says Chidambaram

New Delhi: Alleging that the Centre has taken a “maximalist” position on Kashmir, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Sunday said that this has “aggravated” the problem in the Valley.

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 was “a festering wound” and the people of the Valley were caught between “two maximalist positions” taken by the Central government and the militants. The casualties were 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 Kashmir Valley since the death of Hizbul leader Burhan Wani in an encounter.