Nehruvian blunders to blame for Kashmir problem, says Jitendra Singh; terms Partition 'greatest mistake' in sub-continent

New Delhi: Blaming Jawaharlal Nehru for the Kashmir problem, Union minister Jitendra Singh said the history of Jammu and Kashmir has been a “tale of mistakes”, beginning from “Nehruvian blunders”. [caption id=“attachment_4040939” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Jitendra Singh. Courtesy: PIB[/caption] Singh, minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office, said there should not have been any issue like “Kashmir issue” as it was like any other state. “There was no issue like Kashmir issue. Kashmir merged with India through instrument of accession, similar to what other (princely) states did. The history of Kashmir in the last 60-70 years has been a tale of mistakes beginning from the infamous Nehruvian blunders. Our former prime minister went to United Nations… there was no need,” Singh said, referring to Nehru’s promise to the UN that a referendum would be conducted to allow Kashmiris to join either India or Pakistan. He was speaking at the launch of two books on Jammu and Kashmir written by senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar. Singh said a few places in the Valley witness “mercenary terrorism” but in last three years the Centre has taken some concrete steps to curb terror activities in the state. Terming the partition of India as the “greatest mistake” in the history of Indian sub-continent, the Union minister said intellectuals opposed it, including some prominent Muslim voices. Speaking at the event, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said it was time that Article 370 bestowing special status to Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated. Section 370 had been introduced temporarily and can be revoked through a Cabinet decision, he said.