PM Modi: Ekta, mamata Kashmir mantras

Seeking to strike a chord with the people of Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out a message of “ekta” (unity) and “mamata” (love) to them Sunday, saying that these are the basic mantras for addressing the Kashmir problem, while he severely reprimanded all those who were pushing “innocent” young people into violence and pelting stones, saying these people would “have to answer” for this some day.

In his monthly radio broadcast “Mann Ki Baat”, Mr Modi said that if any life was lost in the Valley, whether of any youth or any securityman, “that loss is ours, of our own, of our own country”. Speaking on the unrest in the Valley, he said: “From the interactions I had with all parties on Kashmir, one thing emerged from those, which can be put in simple words — as ‘ekta’ and ‘mamata’. These two things are the basic mantra.” He said all political parties had spoken in one voice on Kashmir, sending out a “message to the world, as well as the separatist forces”, and conveying “our sentiments to the people of Kashmir”.

The Opposition parties like the Congress and the JD(U), however, picked holes in Mr Modi’s remarks, asking why the government was not able to lift the curfew in Kashmir yet if only five per cent of the people were involved in creating trouble. “If PM believes that only five per cent of the people are creating trouble, then why are the Central and state governments not able to contain it Why is the curfew on for 51 days ” Congress leader Manish Tewari asked on Twitter. He also asked Mr Modi to hear the “Mann ki Baat of the Kashmiri people... rather than (hold) a one-way monologue”.

On J&K, Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the people of the country wanted a lasting peace in Kashmir, but the statement of J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti does not prove it so. Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi said: “Every political party supports the PM if any initiative is taken. He tried to normalise the relationship with Pakistan. Tell me the name of one political party that opposed him. He has not done anything ... to ensure peace in Kashmir.”

In his radio broadcast, Mr Modi equated the unanimity of all political parties on Kashmir to the passage of the landmark GST Bill by Parliament, for which all the parties had come together, saying it showed that big tasks can be achieved by walking jointly. At the same time, he attacked all “those people who push small children to try to create unrest in Kashmir”, and said that “some day, they will have to give answers to these innocent children”.

The PM’s remarks came a day after Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti met him and presented a “three-pronged action plan” that includes a dialogue with all stakeholders.

During the 35-minute programme, the PM also talked of the Rio Olympics and hailed girl power as he referred to the medal winners — shuttler P.V. Sindhu and wrestler Sakshi Malik — and praised gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who had narrowly missed a medal. He said the Indian participants in other events like hockey, shooting and boxing had also performed well.

In the context of the Olympics, the PM referred to his recent announcement about forming a task force under which the government will “go deep” into the subject, study best practices across the world and prepare a roadmap for the next three Olympics in 2020, 2024 and 2028. “We have to formulate a long-term programme,” he said, asking the state governments to also form such committees so that an impetus could be given to sports. He said the states could also send their suggestions to the Centre in this regard.

The PM said that associations linked to sports should also do brainstorming in an unbiased manner.