Congress on Monday latched on to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s controversial remarks to heap further embarrassment on the BJP asking whether it has undergone a “tectonic shift” on issues concerning the sensitive state including Article 370.
“I wish the Prime Minister comes forward and responds. What is this tectonic shift that is happening. You cannot hunt and run together,” Surjewala told reporters referring to Sayeed’s remarks giving credit to Pakistan, Hurriyat and militants for the smooth conduct of elections in the state.
Posing a host of questions to BJP and Modi on Article 370, he said what was witnessed was a “complete tectonic shift of the BJP and the RSS” and the nation needs to know as to what is the Prime Minister’s stand on it.
The PM needs to explain his position as Sayeed’s remarks came soon after he had a detailed meeting with the PDP patron.
He said that the BJP website gives views and opinions of several of its party veterans including L K Advani, Arun Jaitley and others over abrogation of Article 370 and also has a photo of the Jansangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who died for the cause.
“So now since the PDP-BJP government is in place, the BJP and the RSS should reveal what is their thinking now about Article 370,” Surjewala said adding that the nation needed to know whether they are shifting goalposts.
Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, he said those, who boast of a 56-inche chest, should respond to the controversial remarks of the Chief Minister.
He reminded that it was the same Prime Minister who few months back suspended talks with Pakistan after Hurriyat’s meeting with Pak High Commissioner here.
“You cannot dissect your ideology. Disassociate and associate as you like”, he remarked.
Another party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said on micro-blogging site Twitter, “The PM presided over the meeting which preceded the #MuftiCreditsPak episode. Thus it was the PM’s duty to condemn & dismiss it”.
PTI
