Saifuddin Soz Says Kashmir Wants Independence, BJP Slams Congress

The Congress’ Soz said that Musharraf was right in stating that Kashmiris wanted independence over joining Pakistan.

Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz on Friday, 22 June, said former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was right that Kashmiris wanted independence over joining Pakistan, reported ANI.

Musharraf said Kashmiris don’t want to merge with Pakistan... their first choice is independence. The statement was true then and remains true now also. I say the same but I know that it is not possible.

Saifuddin Soz, Congress MP

Before Musharraf went out of the system, Soz said he had a “conversation with both Vajpayee and Manmohan”.

Further, he said, that “Musharraf wanted dignified peace with India.”

Speaking to The Quint, Soz said autonomy and demilitarisation on both sides, as was envisaged under the Vajpayee-Musharraf-Manmohan formula, will ensure that both India and Pakistan don’t go to war. He added:

It’s the best thing that can happen. Borders will not change and it will be a dignified situation between India and Pakistan. And the greatest advantage is that the chapter of miseries for Kashmiris will close because they suffer only because of hostility between India and Pakistan.

Saifuddin Soz, Senior Congress Leader

In his forthcoming book Glimpses of History and the Story of Struggle, Soz reportedly argues that the Centre should open dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference before moving to mainstream parties to resolve the Kashmir issue.

‘If He Likes Musharraf, We’ll Give One-Way Ticket to Pak’

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MP Subramanian Swamy hit out at Soz for his remarks, saying if he liked Musharraf, India will give them a one-way ticket to Pakistan. He also claimed that Soz benefited from the Centre’s power when his daughter Nahida Imtiaz was kidnapped by Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front.

As central minister, he benefited from Centre’s power when his daughter was kidnapped by JKLF. There’s no use helping these people. Whoever wants to stay in India, can stay abiding by the Constitution. If they like Musharraf we’ll give them a one-way ticket to Pakistan.

Subramanian Swamy, BJP Leader

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, too, launched a scathing attack on the Congress for Soz’s remarks. He called the politician-turned-author’s comments “shameful”.

BJP leader Sambit Patra hit out at the Congress stating that there was a “Pakistan within Congress.”

While terrorist group LeT endorses the statement of Congress leader GulamNavi Azad, top Congress Neta Saifuddin Soz declares that Kashmiris want to be independent!!
Alas there’s a Pakistan outside of India & a Pakistan within the Congress!#CongMahagatbandhanWithLeT pic.twitter.com/IDsnjwkm4u

— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) June 22, 2018

Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi called Soz’s statement “irresponsible”.

“Kashmir is itself a critical issue. The separatists and the terrorists have hijacked the growth, development, and peace of Kashmir. We all must come together forward to defeat such powers. One should not give any such statements that will boost the morale of separatists and terrorists in the Valley,” he said.

‘Cong Prez Should Respond’

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi should respond to Soz’s statement, and that Soz should migrate to Pakistan.

Congress President needs to reply on Saifuddin Soz’s statement and if Congress vouches for his statement. If he (SaifuddinSoz) has so much affection for Pakistan and Musharraf then he should consider migrating to Pakistan and become his servant.

Manisha Kayande, Shiv Sena