Sharing the pain of the suffering Kashmiris, Parliament today unanimously appealed to people of the valley to restore peace and harmony even as the government expressed readiness to hold talks with moderate groups and others and made a decision to call an all-party meet on Friday.
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The Upper House later unanimously adopted a resolution appealing to the people of the Kashmir Valley to restore peace and harmony.
Amidst the current sparring between the Opposition and government on the volatile situation in Kashmir, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has come in for some un-qualified praise from the MPs across the aisle.
Accusing Islamabad of being fully responsible behind the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by the security forces, the Home Minister yesterday lashed out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said that no power in the world can wrest Kashmir from India.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh declared that there is no question of handing over Kashmir to the Army, quashing rumours that are being spread “deliberately”.
Asserting that he was speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Home Minister said an all-party meeting would be held on Friday on the Kashmir situation, which would be attended by the PM. He said orders had been given to the security forces to exercise “maximum restraint”, and said due to this 4,515 security personnel had suffered injuries, in contrast to 3,356 civilians. Talking about the unrest in Kashmir, he said a decision could be taken on sending an all-party delegation to Kashmir after discussions with the state chief minister on the terms and modalities of engagement.
The Congress leader said that everyone in Kashmir is a victim of militancy. “Start a political process to bring an end to the problems of people of Kashmir”, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said. They have slaughtered us, tortured us, humiliated us blinded us, raped us and even deprived us of basic necessities for the last 7 decades and are still doing it. “He has confidence in me and whatever I say reflects the same sentiments as his”. “If there will be talks with Pakistan, there won’t be a discussion on Kashmir but on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir”. “I am not justifying its use by arguing these were used earlier too”, he said, but added he had reviewed the situation to explore other options, and a committee had been formed which was asked to give its report in two months.
“The intensity of incidents where Pak flags have been hoisted and where ISIS flags are being unfurled in Kashmir that intensity has increased and an open space has been given to separatists and anti-national elements, they are taking out pro-Pak rallies in Kashmir, they have been allowed to go unchecked, action has not been taken against them under the relevant law of the land”, he added. He condemned ISIS, saying it is anti-Muslim and has killed those believing in Islam.
Meanwhile do not forget about people of Jammu while discussing problems in Kashmir where a battle is raging between nationalism and separatism, a BJP MP told Parliament on Wednesday.
He said Jammu, which shares some 500 km of border with Pakistan, also had its share of problems. Raising slogans against the country is not right. Pakistan had earlier this year shown a video statement of Kulbhushan Yadav, an Indian national arrested in Balochistan in March over charges of spying for the Indian intelligence agencies. “But when the Taj of India is burning, the heat is not reaching the central government”, Azad said. Hurriyat Chairman said that Indians especially it’s conscious, honest and visionary of citizens very well know that despite using iron hand to crush Kashmiries since 1947, they have miserably failed to contain our freedom sentiment.
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Shifting his focus to the issue of Dalits’ thrashing, Azad said, “We did not hear PM’s statement on Dalit issues here in the Parliament”.
