Ghulam Nabi Azad's comments on anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir triggers controversy, BJP attacks

Speaking to News18, Azad said, “They take action against four terrorists and kill 20 civilians along. Their action is more against civilians than terrorists. For instance, they killed 13 civilians in Pulwama and just one terrorist.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party attacked tge former Union Minister for his comment.

BJP leader and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the remarks made by Azad were 'unfortunate and irresponsible'.

"Today the observations made by senior leader of Congress Party Ghulam Nabi Azad has been endorsed by organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba. These organisations and their patrons in Pakistan would be the happiest to hear such statements of Congress leaders," Prasad said while addressing a press conference here.

Soz sparks off a row:

Senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz has triggered a controversy by saying that ex- Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s assessment over a decade ago that Kashmiris will “prefer to be independent” if they are given a chance to “exercise their free will” seems to be “correct even today”.

In his book Kashmir: Glimpses of History and the Story of Struggle, which will be released next week, Soz says the primary responsibility to find a solution to Kashmir lies with the Centre, which has to show “a gesture of compassion for creating a situation of relief in the minds of Kashmiris” and initiate a dialogue with the people, reported The Indian Express.

“And, if the Union of India has to talk to the people of Kashmir, it will have to decide the grouping with which it will initiate the dialogue. In my opinion, it is the political conglomerate called the Hurriyat. Then, the ball will certainly move to what is broadly known as the ‘mainstream’,” Soz writes in the book published by Rupa Publications, as reported in The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, the BJP and the government slammed the Congress leader of his remarks.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad attacked Soz over his comment and said: "Senior Congress leader and former Minister in UPA Govt Saifuddin Soz has written in his book that Kashmir should be given independence. He has also expressed his affection towards Pervez Musharraf."

Troubles hit Kashmir in recent times:

Incidents like encounters, killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and army jawans have disrupted normal life in the north Indian state.

Political conflict:

The government in Jammu and Kashmir toppled this week when the Bharatiya Janara Party withdrew from its alliance with the People's Democratic Party (PDP), headed by ex-CM Mehbooba Mufti.

Mufti resigned immediately, making way for President's Rule in the state.