Friday, June 17 2005 07:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Toughening its stand against Pakistan, ruling Congress yesterday (Jun 16, 2005) said travel of Hurriyat leaders from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to other cities of Pakistan was in violation of understanding between the two countries and the Government should take "an appropriate view on it".

"It has been a breach by Pakistan Government and the blame lies on its doorstep. It is for Government to take appropriate view on it. It is a serious matter," Congress spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters in New Delhi.

The spokesman was responding to questions from reporters about the letter written by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee accusing the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government of making the Indo-Pak peace process Kashmir-centric and giving more prominence to Hurriyat leaders.

"Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) charge is misplaced and unwarranted. Hurriyat has not been given any special importance by the Government. They have been given importance by President (Pervez) Musharraf and the Government of Pakistan," he said.

Sharma said that allowing of Hurriyat leaders was a fault of Pakistan Government. "There is an understanding between the two countries for allowing people of either sides of Kashmir to travel for which permits are issued by Regional Passport offices from Indian side," he said.

He also questioned the representative character of Hurriyat saying, "It does not consider Hurriyat as representative of Kashmiri people. There is an elected Assembly, which represents the people of the State."