Chidambaram's statement demoralising: Kashmiri Pandits

Kashmiri Pandits today termed as "demoralising" the remarks made by Union home minister P Chidambaram on granting more concessions to Kashmir.

"We express serious concern over the remarks made by the Union home minister during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in context of his statement to grant more concessions to the state," president of Panun Kashmir Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo told reporters here.

Chidambaram's statement that Jammu and Kashmir had acceded to India in "unique circumstances" and the state has a "unique problem" and requires a "unique solution" has created a number of doubts in the minds of those on the forefront of the struggle to protect national interests in the state, Chrungoo said.

Asking the state Congress leadership to be "innovative" in future for finding a political roadmap over Kashmir, Chidambaram during his visit to Jammu on Thursday had focused on the process of organising a "broad response" to political aspects of Kashmir situation.

"Chidambaram is in the process of organising a broad response to the political aspect of the Kashmir situation," state Congress chief and MP Saifuddin Soz had said after meeting the home minister.

"These remarks have demoralising effect on those stakeholders of the state who have treated accession of the state as full, final and irrevocable," Chrungoo said.

The Panun Kashmir leader feared the review of AFSPA and the proposed 25% cut in the troops strength in the state would only lead to increased incidences of terrorist violence.