AAP should tread cautiously

Aam Admi Party is in infant stage. It is not that because it got power in Delhi within two years of its struggle against corruption and price rise in the Congress regime it has become mature enough to express its views on the important issue like Kashmir without considering its consequences. AAP senior leader and eminent Supreme Court lawyer Prashan Bhusan’s statement that there should be referendum on the deployment of Army in the state of Jammu and Kashmir deserves to be criticised by all Indians. Though AAP has distanced itself from his statement, it must rein in its leader like Prashant Bhushan who is used to issue statement that amounts to encouraging secessionism . The moment Prashant Bhusan’s controversial statement came into public domain, sharp reactions against it started pouring in from all corners of the nation. AAP Convener and Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal swung into action and said that it was Prashant Bhusan’s personal view and he and his party are opposed to any kind of referendum on Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir is the integral part of India and it will remain so. This is our national position. It is the heart and soul of the nation. So, AAP should tread the path cautiously on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Otherwise, it will go out of the public attention before attaining adolescent and adulthood. Prashant Bhushan is known for having such differing view on Kashmir. He has also given this type of controversial statement on Kashmir in the past and invited ire from all political, social and nationalist organizations. The government of India on the basis internal and external security threat perception decides the deployment of Army in Kashmir and elsewhere in the country. It is absolutely not the matter of public discourse. Army has been deployed in Kashmir to thwart any attempt of subversion through violence from across the border and protect the people there from terrorists sent by Pak. It is an open secret that militants infiltrate into Kashmir from across the border frequently to create mayhem there. So, deployment of army is absolutely necessary to protect the innocent citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and sovereignty of the nation. AAP leaders must not raise the voice that helps promote secession. If the impression goes out in the nation that the fledging AAP has different view on Jammu and Kashmir from the stated position of the entire nation, the hope that has caught the imagination of the common men due to its fight to end corruption, VIP culture and establishment of Aam Admi supremacy in democracy will be of no use. Prashant Bhushan’s statement about referendum on deployment of Army in Kashmir and his similar statement in the past also make one thing clear that the AAP is divided on the issue of Kashmir. As AAP is preparing seriously to spread its wing nationwide by putting up its candidate in most of Lok Sabha constituencies in the coming elections, it must come out clear about its views on Jammu and Kashmir. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is very sensitive and critical for the nation. And as far as the security issue is concerned, it can not be decided on streets. AAP must know that before going to national, it must clarify its stand on all national issues. It is also matter of common knowledge that national security policy decisions can not be decided in street corner meetings as AAP decided issues against the outgoing Congress government in Delhi assembly elections.