After P Chidambaram pitched for greater autonomy for the restive Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress party sought to distance itself from the remarks of senior party leader.

Reacting to Chidambaram's comment, Congress said that the 'opinion of an individual is not necessarily the opinion of the party'.

Chidambaram pitched for greater autonomy for the restive valley, drawing stinging criticism from the BJP, with Union minister Smriti Irani calling it 'shocking and shameful'.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also slammed Chidambaram, saying Congress' position over the issue goes directly contrary to India's national interest.

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"The position that the Congress party has taken goes directly contrary to India's national interest. It was the flawed policy of the Congress party right since 1947 which is responsible for the Kashmir problem. Historically Kashmir problem is a Congress party legacy. Instead of learning from its past mistake the Congress wants to precipitate a crisis further for this country," Jaitley told ANI.

However, Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters, "Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so unquestionably.

"The opinion of an individual is not necessarily the opinion of the Indian National Congress. In our democracy, individuals are entitled to their opinion," Surjewala said when asked about Chidambaram's remarks.

He said the party had constituted a policy-planning group under the chairmanship of former prime minister Manmohan Singh to carry forward the peace initiative in the state.

The group will visit Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Kargil and Ladakh regions, between November 10 and 12.

Once the group concludes its deliberations, it will submit a report and share feedback and experience with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he said.

The Congress spokesperson hit out at the governments at the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir over their handling of the situation in the state and asked the ruling parties "to introspect" on the issue.

He recalled "how terrorist Masood Azhar was released and taken to Kandahar" in Afghanistan after an Indian Airlines flight was hijacked during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

Whereas 10 years of the Congress-led UPA government proved to be a watershed in restoring normalcy, promoting economic activity, tourism and infrastructural development, engaging with the people within the framework of the Constitution and fighting terrorism and militancy decisively, he said.

Surjewala also asked the BJP government to list the steps it has taken to restore normalcy and peace in the state and its roadmap to ensure development there.

(With PTI Inputs)