Kashmiris prize independence, former Indian minister says

Soz's comments draw BJP ire

In a move that has stoked India-wide condemnation, former union minister Saifuddin Soz has said Kashmiris prize independence, Times of India reported. 



"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," Soz told ANI.

Condemnation from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quarters was swift with party spokesmen Sambit Patra, Amit Malviya and Ravi Shankar Prasad rapping the Indian National Congress (INC) leader.

Prasad accused the INC of "standing with those who want to break the country." Malviya termed Soz's comments an 'endorsement' of Musharraf.

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

After LeT Chief endorsed Ghulam Nabi Azad, Senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz returns the favour and endorses Musharraf. What is wrong with these Congress leaders? खाते यहाँ की हैं, और बजाते वहाँ की... No wonder Rahul Gandhi rushed to endorse the ‘टुकड़े टुकड़े’ gang... Shame. pic.twitter.com/LWNA0XyB0Y

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 22, 2018

Soz has expanded on his position on Kashmir in his soon-to-be published book. Soz's book "Kashmir: Glimpses of History and the Story of Struggle" is to be released next week.

A union minister in the first Congress-led UPA government, Soz was previously affiliated with the National Conference. In 1999, he jumped ship after voting against a motion of confidence moved by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the Lok Sabha.



Soz became Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief in 2008. No stranger to controversy, Soz earlier urged political parties to understand the stance of separatist groups via dialogue, according to PTI.

"I wish the mainstream parties in Kashmir realise, in full measure, the genuineness of the stand taken by the Joint Resistance Leadership of the Hurriyat Conference on the issue of a purposeful dialogue process between New Delhi and Kashmir." He similarly courted controversy last year on the death anniversary of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani."If it were in my control, I would have kept Burhan Wani alive for dialogue," Soz said.

This article originally appeared in the Times of India.