PM Modi said that when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, he had adopted the path of “Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat” and the present government also walks on the same road.
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In a strong message to Pakistan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “No power on earth can snatch Kashmir from us”.
“I want to tell people of Kashmir it can also have the azadi that India feels”, Modi added. The minister was replying to a day long serious debate on situation in Kashmir in Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Indian Parliament.
The home minister, however, spoke sternly while referring to a letter by Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to the United Nations on a “plebiscite” in Kashmir, saying: “After assessing the feelings of this House, I can safely say that no power on earth can snatch Kashmir from us”, and added: “If there will be any talks with Pakistan, it will be on PoK and not Kashmir”.
“We will now have to announce and God willing practically cross the bloody line [the disputed Kashmir border] together with the entire population of Azaad Kashmir [Pakistani Kashmir] and mujahideen (holy warriors) as well as refugees [who have come from the Indian side] without fearing any restrictions”, Salauhddin said.
Taking a jibe at the BJP-PDP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, the senior Congress leader called for integration between the Centre and state government.
“Kashmir is a complex issue”.
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. However, US State Department spokesperson John Kirby had issued a statement that though US is concerned about the violence in Kashmir, it is a “matter for the Government of India to speak to specifically”.
“We all are anxious about Jammu and Kashmir”.
On the unanimous demand to stop the use of pellet guns, Singh said that an experts committee had been appointed to explore other non lethal options to control violence and this would submit its report within two months. The minister added: “Whatever is happening in Kashmir is not because of its people. whatever is happening is Pakistan-sponsored”.
The young boy described himself as Modi fan and said that he never missed any edition of “Mann Ki Baat”.
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.
“We did not hear the Prime Minister’s statement on Dalit issues here in the Parliament”.
At least 55 people have been killed – majority in police firing – following the street unrest in Kashmir to protest against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by security forces last month. He said he would ask chief minister Mehbooba Mufti from where to start the process of talks, with whom and on what issues.
More than 55 people have been killed in the valley in the unrest that broke out after security forces killed a rebel commander.
With regard to security of Kashmiris studying in other parts of the country, the Home Minister said he will write to all state CMs and tell them, if necessary, develop a system of building relationship between locals and Kashmiris. He said the pellet guns hurting the conscience of Kashmir people.
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CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said there was a need to address the trust deficit in the valley.
