Minister suggests azadi to Kashmir

JAMMU, DEC 6
A Jammu and Kashmir minister belonging to the Congress has stoked a controversy by suggesting that Kashmir be granted “azadi”, remarks that embarassed his party which termed them as his personal view.
Addressing a rally at Bani in Kathua district, Congress Minister for Health and Horticulture Sham Lal Sharma had raised the demand for making Jammu a separate State, giving Union territory status to Ladakh and granting “azadi” to Kashmir.
“Give freedom to Kashmir, that’s more beneficial. Give separate statehood status to Jammu and make Ladakh a union territory. If this State has to be developed, this is the only solution”, Sharma said in the presence of Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz.
His remarks drew a sharp attack from the state Bharatiya Janata Party which alleged they are “tantamount to treason” and demanded his dismissal from the government and arrest.
 In damage-control mode, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi described Sharma’s remarks as his “personal view” and said the party’s stand “is very clear—autonomy within theframework of the Constitution”.
The remarks by Sham Lal Sharma had made Soz and his senior party leaders uneasy at the rally. In fact, Soz had tried to initiate damage control and expressed his party’s resolve to keep all the three regions of the State united to ensure equal and balanced development.
“We are all answerable to All India Congress Committee President Sonia Gandhi and what we say here be considered as the Congress word and we must speak along the party’s line”, Soz said.