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Nothing wrong with our Kashmir map: PDP
People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday hit back at Home Minister P Chidambaram, who had warned the party of stern action over its controversial propaganda map.
The map, displayed by PDP during a power point presentation on Saturday, showed Aksai Chin and Karakoram region as part of China. These areas were painted in red while Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was depicted in green.
Reportage: Onkar Singh
'PDP has shown the areas under PoK and China as part of JK'
"I have high regard for Home Minister P Chidambaram and I would request him to concentrate on other issues rather then pointing out what the PDP has done. He should look into the overall impact of what we have done," Mufti said.
"While talking of Jammu and Kashmir being made a free economic zone, the party has shown the areas under PoK and China as part of Jammu and Kashmir. We would like these areas to be included in the final resolution of the issue of J&K," Mufti said in a telephonic conversation with rediff.com.
'Centre is getting bullied by China'
The PDP chief also advised Chidambaram to "look into the frequent incursions by China in Ladakh region in the last couple of years".
"The Centre is getting bullied by China," she alleged
She also took on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, asking him to concentrate on the state administration rather than get involved in matters that were under the purview of the central government.
"He has made a mess of the state. He should let the Centre handle such major issues," she said.
'We are not apologetic about our belief'
Speaking on the controversial propaganda map, Mufti said that it was the first time any political party in the state had demanded that parts of the state held by Pakistan and China should be involved in resolving the Kashmir issue.
"We are not apologetic about our belief. The different colours show the areas held by Pakistan and China. We want those areas to be included in the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir problem," she said.
'I only complimented the Egyptian people'
She also denied allegations that she had compared the Kashmir unrest to the mass movement in Egypt, and asked protestors in the Valley to emulate the revolution in the Arab state.
"This allegation is totally false. I have never said so. I only complimented the Egyptian people for the peaceful transition, like the Indian foreign minister did in his statement. The people of Kashmir have been struggling for the last sixty years for the resolution of the issue; so what can I tell them to do," she asserted.
'China has been issuing stapled visas'
Mufti also urged the home minister to resolve the visa stapling row with China.
"China says that the people of Arunachal Pradesh need no visa. To the people of Jammu and Kashmir, China has been issuing stapled visas. It would be nice if the Centre takes us this issue with China effectively," she said.