Parties in J&K want statehood first: Chidambaram

Former Home Minister P. Chidambaram hit out at the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the parties in Jammu and Kashmir want statehood first, while the government wants elections first. In a tweet, Chidambaram said, Congress and other J&K parties and leaders want statehood first and elections later, while the government wants to hold elections first and state status later.

He said, it is the horse that pulls the cart. A state should hold elections first. The elections to be held under the State Election Commission will be free and fair. Why does the government want the car in front and the horse behind? It’s bizarre.

The all-party meeting lasted for three and a half hours at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. It was attended by 14 leaders including veteran politician and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah. Most of the leaders insisted on the resumption of the political process in the Valley.