Congress, Panthers Party attack BJP over ‘Track-II’ talks

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 26

Opposition parties have trained their guns on the BJP for working in a “clandestine manner” to deal with the prevailing situation in the Kashmir valley.

They have accused the BJP of double standard on dialogue with Pakistan and separatists though the party has distanced itself from “Track-II” dialogue started by the five-member group led by Yashwant Sinha.

“Dialogue is the only way to solve all issues. We are in favour of dialogue with all stakeholders. Why is the BJP working in a clandestine manner?” asked state Congress 

vice-president Sham 

Lal Sharma.

He pointed out that the BJP had been publicly  opposing dialogue with Pakistan and separatists on the one hand, 

but had initiated dialogue with Hurriyat leaders on the other.

Sharma said that instead of initiating the process in a “clandestine manner”, the government should come out openly and 

take all political parties in confidence.

He charged the BJP with publicly raking up people’s sentiments against Pakistan. Recalling Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s statement, he said it exposed everything.

“Being head of the government in which the BJP is an equal partner, she is seeking Pakistan’s help to restore peace and advocating dialogue with Pakistan,” he observed.

Panthers Party chairman Harsh Dev Singh said the visit of the delegation had exposed the “duplicity” of the “self-proclaimed nationalist” party.

“How can the BJP distance itself from the exercise? It is known to everyone that former Foreign Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha is a veteran BJP leader,” he said.

He claimed that the BJP had been brazenly trying to take political mileage by marketing the Army’s achievements as its own elsewhere in the country.

He added that the saffron party had now 

deputed a delegation to appease separatist leaders such as Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a known supporter of Pakistan.