BJP more interested to see Kashmir's development: Amit Shah

"The BJP is not only interested about forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir. Its only purpose is ensuring development and security of the state," Amit Shah said while addressing a rally in the state on Saturday.

Shah attacked senior Congress leader  Saifuddin Soz on his recent controversial remarks over Kashmir and said the state will remain an integral part of India.

"Soz Sahab, BJP will never allow Kashmir to be divided from India. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India," he said.

"I want to assure people of the state that no one will be able to divide Jammu and Kashmir from India," he said.

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.

Amit Shah also targeted Congress leader  Ghulam Nabi Azad for his anti-terror operation comment on Kashmir which also triggered a row.

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.”

Troubles hit Kashmir in recent times:

Incidents like encounters, the killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and army jawanas 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.

Image: BJP Twitter page