BJP can't run away from owning responsibility for mess in J&K: Congress
New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday asked the central government when it would ensure a congenial atmosphere for elections to take place in Jammu and Kashmir and elect a government of the people in the state.
The Congress also accused the BJP of radicalisation and said it cannot shun and run away from owning the responsibility of creating this mess and back-stabbing the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
"The directionless, agenda-less and clueless policy of the Modi government has left the people of Jammu and Kashmir in complete despair and this is a grave national concern.
"How does Prime Minister Modi propose to ensure peace and normalcy in the state? When will the ceasefire violations by Pakistan and terror attacks on our soil stop? What is the economic roadmap for inclusion and progress for the people of J&K?" asked Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
The Congress said both the BJP and the PDP should take the responsibility for the present situation in the state.
"We have asked that by when the security scenario will be able to change and by when an atmosphere will be created by the Government of India and the Governor in Jammu and Kashmir so that elections can be held.
"So both Governor and Government of India will have to ensure that the security scenario be changed and law and order is maintained so that we can have elections, so that we do not have elections like we had in Parliament when there was seven per cent voting. We would like definitely a government of the people representing the state," he said.
He said the Congress is extremely concerned and pained by the developments in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We caution the Modi government to correct its flawed approach and work for rebuilding the trust and restoration of normalcy in the state," he said.
Asked about the Congress's stand on elections in the state, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, "Who wins or loses elections in Jammu and Kashmir, we do not care. We want peace and stability to be restored in the state."
Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Study Group formed by the Congress to monitor the situation in the trouble-torn state, held its meeting at the instance of the Congress president and reviewed the situation in the state after the imposition of Governor's rule after the BJP withdrew support to the PDP.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh chairs the group. Former home minister P Chidamabaram, Azad, Ambika Soni and state party chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir are its members.
