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BJP, oppn parties irked with Powell's comments on J&K

The ruling BJP and major opposition parties on Monday rejected as 'unacceptable' US Secretary of State Colin Powell's observations that Jammu and Kashmir was on the international agenda and that international observers should monitor the forthcoming assembly election in the state.

While rejecting the idea of international monitors for the October assembly election in J&K, India had on Sunday said that it had no objection to diplomats, journalists and visitors going to the state to witness the polls.

BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu termed Powell's suggestion for international observers as 'interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country'.

On Monday, a MEA spokesperson said that Powell's reference to Kashmir can only mean that international terrorism is on the international agenda.

"Kashmir is a focal point where we see blood of innocent men, women and children being shed every day and that is why Kashmir is on the international agenda. That is why we have been engaging the international community to raise the levels of understanding about cross-border terrorism directed against India by Pakistan and its forces," Nirupama Rao said.

"Once the problem of cross-border terrorism ends, J&K will drop from the international agenda," she said.

However, the Congress and other opposition parties have demanded to know the government's response to Powell's comments in both Houses of Parliament by Tuesday.

Chief of the Congress foreign affairs cell Natwar Singh said, "The Congress party welcomes improvement in Indo-US relations. But, we have objection to US Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement that Kashmir was on the international agenda."

Singh also recalled that former US president Bill Clinton had, in the Central Hall of Parliament, called Kashmir a disputed territory.

The Congress expressed satisfaction with the government's stand on Powell's demand for release of political prisoners before the poll.

With inputs from PTI

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