Accordingly senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said the offer of plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir had been made under very different conditions, which has entirely changed since then, making it no longer relevant. Meanwhile when pitching for talks with Pakistan, he said though dealing with that neighboring nation was "very complicated," there was no other option to avoid war.
He said "Plebiscite was offered under very different conditions, please understand that," and adding, that since then the conditions have changed in Jammu and Kashmir. Furthermore fielding a question from a member of the audience DMK functionary at the launch of his book, "Undaunted: Saving the Idea of India" in Chennai, he said plebiscite was offered to a "united Kashmir". Reportedly since then the conditions have changed and nearly about one half of Jammu and Kashmir is Pakistan occupied now."
Moreover the senior DMK functionary, Thamizhachi Thangapandian, wanted to know about the "promise made by Jawaharlal Nehru," referring to the offer of plebiscite and hence the former Union Minister said hence, "we have to live with Pakistan forever and ever." Chidambaram said "Ultimately, we have to talk to Pakistan...you may get nothing out it, you may call me a pacifist, and he is firmly of the view that war does not solve any problems," and recalled the wars India had fought with Pakistan in the past, including the Kargil conflict.
