Cong pushed state into mess: Sharad

Calling upon everyone to look at the current crisis in Jammu and Kashmir from a purely national perspective, Janata Dal president Sharad Yadav said here on Tuesday that 8220;the country should not be punished for the Congress folly over the Amarnath land issue8221;.

Yadav told The Indian Express that the Congress had 8220;undoubtedly pushed Jammu and Kashmir into a mess by making its two regions fight each other8221; but all those who have a stake in territorial integrity and secular fabric of the country should rise to the occasion. 8220;We have to remember that thousands of people have sacrificed their lives in successive wars with Pakistan as well as the proxy war launched against us from across the border to ensure that this country holds itself together,8221; he said. 8220;The gains made during the last 60 years should not be squandered.8221;

8220;Any slip at this stage would complicate the situation in an area which has often drawn international attention in the past,8221; the JDU chief cautioned. 8220;Besides, any polarisation would strengthen anti-national forces.8221; He said the issue had already provided a fresh lease of life to a section of these forces which had been rendered irrelevant during the last two years.

Yadav, whose party is a key constituent of the NDA, had recently taken up the J038;K issue with BJP president Rajnath Singh too.