BJP J&K unit criticises Chidambaram for his "grand bargain"

Lambasting former Union Minister P Chidambaram for his "grand bargain" comment to resolve Kashmir issue, the Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP today said that such a formula was dangerous for the integrity of the country and reiterated abrogation of Article 370 was the only step to bring the Kashmiri people into the national mainstream.
"The statement of former Union Home minister where he advocated for restoring grand bargain under which Kashmir acceded to India by granting a large degree of autonomy, shows that he lacks knowledge of the state as such a formula is dangerous for the integrity of the country with will have serious repercussions," BJP state spokesman Virender Gupta said in a statement here today.

"The ultimate solutions lie in the abrogation of article 370, taking steps to bring the people of Kashmir Valley in the national mainstream," he said.
Gupta said that it seems that former Home minister has little knowledge about Jammu and Kashmir and the circumstance under which Jammu and Kashmir acceded to Indian Union.
"It was Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir who signed the Instrument of Accession, of course, that was endorsed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who was a popular leader only of Kashmir Valley but had no following in Jammu and Ladakh regions.
"No condition was attached at the time of accession by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah," Gupta said.