Following a growing pressure by party’s ally – the in coalition People’s Democratic Party that governs the Himalayan region – to break his silence on the Kashmir unrest, Modi reached out to Kashmiris during a speech in New Delhi and appealed them to maintain peace.
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Home Minister Rajnath Singh, on the other hand, has been more confrontational on his stand on Pakistan’s role in Kashmir.
Modi was speaking at a rally in the state of Madhya Pradesh to mark the birth anniversary of Indian freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad on Tuesday, 9 August. It will be attended by the prime minister.
Azad called for an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.
“There is a need to take the same initiative of winning hearts of the people of Kashmir, which was taken during former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s tenure”, she told the media, hoping that some sense of normalcy returned to the state.
Expressing concern at the prolonged curfew in the Kashmir valley and the deteriorating law and order situation, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday set the tone for reviving dialogue with various stakeholders in the State to ensure peace. “The House is of the firm and considered view that while there can not be any compromise on national security, it is equally an imperative that urgent steps are taken to restore order and peace for the alleviation of the sufferings of the people”.
He said that Pakistan was involved in the protests and made it clear that there was no power in the world that “can take Jammu and Kashmir away from us”.
Afterwards she dismissed the protests in the Kashmir valley as part of a pattern of unrest that has intermittently affected the disputed region since 2008 but said previous Indian governments have failed to deliver on promises for the region. “If we talk about electricity, roads and water, and not about politics, it will be wrong”. “The government is ready for talks with moderates”.
They also demanded a parliamentary delegation to be sent to Kashmir to deliberate with all sections and an all-party meet to find a resolution. “You are asking for too much if you expect (J&K CM) Mehbooba Mufti to tackle it alone”, Azad reminded the political underpinnings of the challenge.
Taking a dig at PM Narendra Modi, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad while participating in debate on Kashmir said “When people quote Vajpyee and refer to Kashmiriyat, Democracy and Humanity, it somehow does not sound convincing”.
“We can’t even think of it”.
“Rajnath Singh ji is clearly a patriotic Home Minister who has only one agenda, which is to secure every nook and corner of this country”.
“Jammu and Kashmir has a curfew, many people have been injured. Whatever is happening is Pakistan-sponsored”, he said.
He also said that the separatists have been calling for shutdowns in the Kashmir Valley.
“I can’t say Kashmiris are living a normal life, but despite all odds, the state government is making efforts to minimise their inconvenience”, the minister said.
Menon further said that even after an all-party meeting and a visit by all-party delegation has not normalised the situation in the Kashmir Valley.
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On the use of pellet guns on protestors, Singh said this is not the first time, pellet guns have also been used earlier.
