Opposition demanded lifting AFSPA from civilian areas and asked govt to initiate talks with stake holders, including separatists.
Opposition demanded lifting AFSPA from civilian areas and asked govt to initiate talks with stake holders, including separatists.
New Delhi:
At the all-party meeting held in New Delhi on Friday to discuss Kashmir unrest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is part of Jammu and Kashmir and said that dialogue must be initiated with PoK expatriates around the world.
-"There cannot be any compromise on national security, but we have to win confidence of the people in Jammu and Kashmir,-" said Modi at the meeting, which lasted for 4 hours.
The meeting chaired by Modi was called to discuss the prevailing situation in Kashmir, which is on the boil since Hizbul Mujahideen posterboy Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8. Over 50 people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured in clashes between protestors and security forces.
In the meeting, the Opposition supported government’s attempt to restore peace in the Valley and demanded that immediate confidence building measures be initiated like discontinuation of pellets guns and lifting AFSPA from civilian areas. The Opposition also advised the government to initiate talks with stake holders, including separatists.
After the meeting, Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced a development package of over Rs 80,000 crore for overall development of Jammu and Kashmir and its people.
On Opposition’s demands, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that security implications of banning pellet guns will be considered and decision will be taken after expert committee evaluation.
The meet was held right after the Lok Sabha adopted a resolution on the Kashmir situation, appealing for urgent steps to restore order and peace in the valley while asserting that there can be no compromise with the country's integrity and security.
In the resolution read out by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, the House appealed to all sections of the society in Jammu and Kashmir to restore the confidence among the people in general and youth in particular.
The House -"conveys its deep sense of anguish and concern over the loss of lives and critical injuries caused by the deteriorating situation,-" it said.
Amid thumping of desks by members from all sides, the resolution asserted that the House -"is of the firm and considered view that there cannot be any compromise on unity, integrity and national security.
Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter by a joint team of the special operations group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and 19 Rashtriya Rifles at Bumdoora village in Kokernag area of Anantnag district on July 8.
The all party meet chaired by Modi is likely to stress on a dialogue with all stakeholders including exploring possibilities of opening up of communication channels with the separatist in a bid to contain the ongoing turbulence in the Valley.
-"Everybody will come, hold discussions and put forward their views. But, the situation in Kashmir is grime, curfew has been imposed for over 30 days, people are defying it and coming out on the streets. Besides, there are attacks on our jawans,” Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut said before attending the meet.
The Opposition had been relentlessly attacking Modi for failing to make any statement on the ongoing Kashmir unrest in the Parliament till date.
-"Prime Minister Modi tweets on events across the world, but he was silent on Kashmir crisis. When something happens in Africa, the Prime Minister tweets about it. But when the Taj of India is burning, the heat is not reaching the central government,-" Leader of Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad had said on Wednesday.
The Congress leader had said that an All Party Delegation needs to be formed to be sent to J&K and that it should be announced in the Parliament.
