Stone pelting is weapon used by Pakistan to invade India: Advani

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) Recalling the history of India when it was divided into two nations, senior BJP leader L K Advani today said the present situation in Kashmir is another tactic used by Pakistan to invade it. ''

The neighbouring nation has just changed its strategy to conquer this integral part of India. Initially it was through wars on borders, then proxy war and now civil war among people,'' Mr Advani said.

He was speaking during a discussion on 'Resolving the Kashmir Issue', organised by a Conclave of Defence Services Veterans here.

Referring to stone pelting incidents in the Valley, Mr Advani said it was not a deliberate act of innocent youths in the Valley but militants and some politically-motivated people formed a part of them.

''The people there are provoked to get into such an act,'' he said. In the august gathering of defence officers, the BJP leader also mentioned about calling back the Army from the Valley and said, ''It is a conscious effort to demonise the Army and if the government will accept it, the consequences will be terrible.'' He added that it was due to the efforts of the Indian Army that the state was still with India.

Mr Advani also elaborated the history of enforcement of Article 370 in the state and cited the sequence of events of how it was done. He categorically said if during the process of integration applied by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Kashmir would have been involved, then such a turmoil would have never occurred. He asserted that a measure of firmness was needed to resolve the issue in Kashmir.

However, ending his address by quoting BJP's Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, he said, ''The slogan still remains the same -- Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan aur do Nishan nahin chalega (Two legislatures, two presidents and two symbols can not exist in one nation).''

Lieutenant General S K Sinha, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnamurthy, BJP leader Smriti Irani and many other dignitaries from Defence were also present on the occasion.

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