Bhushan's remarks on JK triggers row

Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said that AAP should “wake up to the reality that they are a political party” and “no longer an NGO or commentators”.

He said AAP has “pan-India ambitions” and its leaders should be careful in making statements.

“We are dealing with a very sensitive issue. When everyone agrees that the presence of army has been critical in controlling terrorism, I advise AAP that they should realise that they cannot be irresponsible and make such statements,” he said.

BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi attacked AAP saying this is its first national agenda with a “separatist mindset” and cautioned against “other things to come” from it.

He said referendum is the first step which will followed by demands for a separate Jammu and Kashmir. “The separatists are making such demands with a ‘jihadi' mindset, but the same thing is being said with a ‘gentle face' by AAP,” he said.

Jaitley pointed out that Bhushan had two years ago suggested a plebiscite in Jammu & Kashmir where people must be free to decide whether they wish to stay with India or otherwise.

The BJP leader said after much difficulty the issue of plebiscite which was internationalised by Pakistan was linked to the territory wrongfully occupied by Pakistan and today it is no longer a part of either the international agenda, a United Nations process or even the Indo-Pak bilateral talks.

He said de-militarisation of the Valley can take place only after elimination of terrorism and dismantling of terrorist infrastructure. “The army presence till then is necessary to protect both the territory and the people of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.

The BJP leader said defence of India is a subject exclusively in the central government's domain, as it is neither a state subject nor a subject to be handled at the municipal level.