Naidu slams Chidambaram's remarks on Kashmir, says Congress guided by 'political opportunism'

New Delhi, Aug 18 (ANI): Questioning former home minister P. Chidambaram's remarks on the Kashmir unrest, Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said it appears that the grand old party leaders are not guided by the national interest but by political opportunism. Naidu said Congress has once again displayed its insensitivity on the Jammu and Kashmir issue as its own leaders are not in consonance. "The Congress Party has once again displayed shocking carelessness on the sensitive Jammu and Kashmir issue. They have stirred a needless controversy... Its own leaders are not in consonance...One day, Kapil Sibal says something. The next day, Congress disowns it," Naidu told the media here. The Union Minister said that the only thing that is consistent about the Congress Party's policy towards Pakistan and Jammu Kashmir is their inconsistency. "The statements and contradictions by the Congress leaders smell of political opportunism to me. It appears that Congress leaders are not guided by national interest but political opportunism," he added. Appealing the Congress leaders to be sensitive, realistic and act and speak accordingly, he asked, "Why is Congress trying to exonerate Pakistan?" "Why is the Congress trying to exonerate Pakistan? I appeal them to be sensitive, be realistic, understand the sentiments of the people and act and speak accordingly. The government is trying to work on this and things are coming to normalcy," he added. Naidu's reaction came a day after senior Chidambaram said the Congress, National Conference and the PDP should come together to find a solution on Jammu and Kashmir. His party, however, did not agree or disagree. It instead targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad had earlier said that the Prime Minister was indulging in vote bank politics by talking about Pakistan and turning a blind eye towards the unrest in the Kashmir valley. Chidambaram, who was home minister in the UPA government, blamed the PDP-BJP government for the deterioration in the situation in the Valley. "I am afraid the way out of the crisis cannot be found by the present government. Congress, NC and, if willing, the PDP must come together to find a solution: firstly, an immediate solution to stop the violence and, then, a path forward that will bring hope, peace and prosperity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir." (ANI)