Jammu, Feb. 21 -- Stating that statehood is the core issue for the people across Jammu and Kashmir, J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday accused the BJP of "disrespecting" the overall mandate of people. In the assembly elections held last year, the BJP had won 29 assembly seats out of 43 from Jammu region. In Kashmir, the saffron party drew a blank.

Addressing a press conference here, Karra said that during the ongoing campaign of the Congress - Humari Riyasat, Humara Haq - in several districts of Jammu province, including Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar, "there was massive response of the people and statehood remains the core issue of all sections of the society".

"There is strong resentment amongs...