SRINAGAR: The ruling National Conference party has asked India’s former army chief, General V.K. Singh to stop categorizing Kashmiris and said no one in the state needed a “certificate of loyalty” from him.
Mr Singh, accused of using a plotting to overthrow the Omar Abdullah-led government with help from state Agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, had in an interview praised Mir as a “true nationalist”.
The retired General, while denying allegations against himself, said blaming Mir “was like blaming God”.
The NC has said that the reports about General Singh’s alleged plan are “very serious” and could dent the faith of people in the democratic system.
Senior National Conference leader and Parliament Member, Dr. Mehboob Beig said the army has no role in JK polity and should be kept out of it.
He has said that the involvement of more state-based politicians in the ‘nexus’ could not be ruled out. He said that the matter needs to be probed, but insisted “We should not jump the gun in haste.”
“Any assumptions would make the things more worse,” he said.
“Even congress would be worried by the revelations but given the sensitiveness of the matter; they may not be willing to express their concern in public.”
