New Delhi, Jan 6

Opposing the suggestion of a referendum on the army's deployment in Kashmir, BJP leader Arun Jaitley Monday blamed Jawaharlal Nehru for "mismanagement" of the Kashmir issue.

"The suggestion that the issue of army presence in Kashmir be decided by a referendum of the people in the valley must be opposed," Jaitley said. 

He blamed Nehru, the country's first prime minister, for the problems in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Issues relating to Jammu and Kashmir were substantially decided by Nehru. The effects of his mismanagement of Jammu and Kashmir continue to leave their impact even today," he said in his blog. 

Without naming Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Prashant Bhushan who suggested a referendum over army deployment in the valley, Jaitley said: "The same leader had two years ago suggested a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir where people must be free to decide whether they wish to stay with India or otherwise.

"The issues of national security cannot be decided by populism or referendum. They can only be decided on security considerations.

Till such time the infrastructure of terror remains, the presence of the army in Jammu and Kashmir is essential," Jaitley said on twitter. 

By:IANS