Kejriwal disowns Prashant’s remark

• Later, Bhushan clarified referendum doesn’t mean plebiscite
• AAP holds that J&K is an integral part of India, he said

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party ideologue Prashant Bhushan's remark on Kashmir that there should be a referendum on the deployment of the Army in the Valley has kicked up a row, forcing AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to step in and distance his party from the remark.

Seizing upon it, the BJP and the Congress roundly criticised AAP and asked it to spell out its stand on major national issues, especially when they aspire to go national. Delhi PCC President Arvinder Lovely said if the AAP wants to be a national party, it must take a considered position on important national issues like secularism and Kashmir. Deployment of Army is a need-based issue relating to internal security and the question of referendum does not arise, he insisted.

Arvind Kejriwal was quick to declare that he disagreed with what Prashant Bhushan said about Kashmir, saying it was his personal view. Kejriwal said, “Deployment of the army within the country should be decided on the basis of internal security threat. There is no question of a referendum on this. But we believe the sentiments of locals should be respected. Otherwise democracy will be under threat.”

AAP ideologue Prashant Bhushan came up with the argument that in keeping with participatory democracy, people in Kashmir Valley should be allowed to determine whether they want the Army for internal security or not.

However, stung by the uproar his remark had caused, he quickly clarified that his views had been twisted and that any reference to a referendum should not be construed as a plebiscite on Jammu and Kashmir's merger with India. "The AAP ( Aam Aadmi Party) is of the view that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Needless to say I share this view," he said in a statement. RSS leader Ram Madhav slammed Prashant Bhushan, describing him as always being the voice of secessionists. He said that on vital issues of national security, decisions cannot be taken based on referendum.

Arun Jaitley lashed out at AAP, saying that while on the one hand it nourishes national ambitions, on the other hand, it adopts a position hostile to India's interests. It is Pakistan which has been suggesting the de-militarisation of the Valley, while some separatist groups have been echoing that demand, he pointed out.