New Delhi:Dismissing the contention of the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad that the NDA government at the Centre had caused alienation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Leader of the House Arun Jaitley on Thursday said that it was the policies of the Congress governments over the last 70 years that had led to the present state in the valley.

Intervening in a debate on the statutory resolution on promulgation of President’s rule in the state, Mr Jaitley said the first free and fair polls in Kashmir was held in 1977 when the Congress Party was not in power.

“First free and fair election in Kashmir was held in 1977 when Congress was not in power. It was under Morarji Desai ji. How election processes were done and how governments were formed in the Valley during Congress rule everyone knows,” Mr Jaitley said.

Responding to Ghulam Nabi Azad’s allegations that the situation in Kashmir deteriorated in the last 4.5 years, Mr Arun Jaitley said, “Congress ruled Jammu and Kashmir using undemocratic means and the party had manipulated the election processes in the state to stay in power. Congress’ mistakes are hurting Kashmir, not the recent rule of the BJP.’’