A political slugfest over the violence in Kashmir erupted in Parliament Monday on the Monsoon Session’s opening day.
A political slugfest over the violence in Kashmir erupted in Parliament Monday on the Monsoon Session’s opening day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted at an NDA meeting that his government had nothing to hide, and would take everybody into confidence while tackling it. In the Rajya Sabha, which held an urgent discussion on the issue, home minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for “fomenting trouble in Kashmir” and rejected demands for a plebiscite as an “outdated” idea. He said Kashmiris are “our own people” who were being “misguided” and said all parties would be taken along in dealing with the situation.
The Opposition, led by Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad, said the BJP-led government was a “misfit” and accused it of “contributing to the Kashmir violence”; demanding that the government initiate a dialogue with the people. Leader of the House and finance minister Arun Jaitley rubbished Oppositon claims that the Centre hadn’t handled the situation correctly, and said the “battle was between the nation and separatists”. He also said claims that the Kashmir situation was a reaction to the PDP and BJP forming a government was “just a political mindset”.
Taking the Opposition head on and demolishing its arguments, the home minister said while militancy would be dealt with sternly, there should be “no instant” use of bullets while handling mobs, which should first be tackled with teargas and water cannons. He also said he will talk to J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on the use of pellet guns, blamed for most of the civilian injuries.
Mr Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he himself had asked the security forces to exercise the maximum restraint while tackling mob violence which had started after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.
Invoking Atal Behari Vajpayee’s famous remark about “Kashmiriyat, jamhooriyat and insaniyat” (Kashmiriyat, democracy and humanity), he said: “If there is any place for Kashmiriyat in ‘jamhooriyat’ (democracy), it can be only on the basis of ‘insaniyat’ (humanity) and not ‘haivaniyat’ (devilish acts). Those believing in Kashmiriyat and insaniyat could not give space to haivaniyat.” He asked how Pakistan could claim to be concerned about Muslims in India when it could not stay united itself despite being a Muslim nation.
Earlier, Mr Azad, who initiated the discussion, said while his party stood with the government and the PDP-BJP coalition in J&K in tackling militancy firmly, “excessive use” of force against ordinary citizens, including children and women, was not acceptable. He said Kashmir cannot be ruled “through the barrel of the gun or bullets” and demanded that responsibility be fixed for “excessive use” of force. Mr Azad questioned why such bullets and pellet guns were not used in Haryana that had seen large-scale Jat violence over quotas in February. His demand for an all-party meeting on the issue was echoed by almost all other parties.
Admitting the situation in J&K was a “matter of concern”, Mr Jaitley rejected the contention that the violence was a result of the BJP getting into power in the state. He said efforts were on to restore normality at the earliest and said the entire country should speak in one voice.
Attacking Pakistan, Mr Jaitley said since Independence, it had “never reconciled to the fact that Kashmir was an integral part of India... Hence they go to every extent to disrupt India’s and Kashmir’s progress. When they saw they couldn’t win a conventional war, they resorted to terrorism and militancy.”
Trinamul MP Derek O’Brien blamed the Centre for “mishandling the situation” and said a “healing touch” was needed as “Kashmir is not soil but soul, and keep the soul of Kashmir in mind”.
JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav wanted to know why the talks with separatist leaders had been stopped. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, in a jibe at the PM over his Pakistan policy, said: “What is this blow-hot and blow-cold by talking about a 56-inch chest at one time and going there to eat biryani at another ” Veteran Congress leader Karan Singh urged the government to initiate a “dialogue” with all stakeholders, including Pakistan and separatists, to address the situation. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also sought a “heart-to-heart” dialogue with all stakeholders.
At the NDA meeting in the evening, Mr Raut urged the PM to hold a “chai pe charcha” (talk over tea) with the “people of Kashmir”, and added that the people didn’t like his “chai pe charcha” with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif even though his intentions may have been good.
