Naidu raps Chidambaram for Kashmir remarks (Lead)

New Delhi Feb 25 (IANS) Union Minster M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday termed former Home Minister P. Chidambaram s remarks on NDA government s Kashmir policy as highly shocking and irresponsible.

This is not expected from a person who held post of Union Home Minister Naidu told reporters here a day after the Congress leader answering a question about Jammu and Kashmir reportedly said he had a sinking feeling that Kashmir was nearly lost for India because the central government used brute force to quell dissent there.

He knows about the fragile situation in Kashmir. It is wrong to make such statements and is not in the best interest of the country. We condemn this statement Naidu said.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister also asked the Congress to spell out its stand on the issue adding that that the Chidambaram s irresponsible statement would come as music to Pakistan and embolden it further.

Jammu and Kashmir s Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Kumar Singh also criticised Chidambaram saying his statement was highly condemnable.

He (Chidambaram) was at helm of affairs at the centre. He should not have made such statement he said.

--IANS
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