BJP not for J&K division

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 10. The Bharatiya Janata Party today rejected the idea of division of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that while the formation of regional councils for better, all-round development of the state could be considered, there was no question at all of agreeing to divide the State.

It was a strong rebuttal to the All-Party Hurriyat Conference suggestion that it was willing to accept any solution to the Kashmir problem, even a division of the State, if that is agreed between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir.

The BJP spokesperson, Mr.M. Venkaiah Naidu, said he had read reports that the Hurriyat might have no objection to the State's division, ``but we have strong objection.''

Reiterating that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India, he said that neither did the Constitution permit any division of the State, nor would the country accept it. Certainly, the BJP was totally opposed to it.

``We cannot divide Jammu and Kashmir along religious lines,'' he said, strongly rejecting the reported statement of the Hurriyat leadership that its mind was open to any solution, including a division of the State along religious lines as envisaged by the Dixon plan.

It has been pointed out that the Dixon plan was completely outdated and had long ago become irrelevant. (EOM)

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