Debate on Kashmir in Rajya Sabha
By andalib akhter
India’s home minister Rajnath Singh today said that his government is ready for talks with all section of Kashmiris to resolve decades old problem. However he made it clear that there would be no compromise on the national integrity of India at any cost. The minister was replying to a day long serious debate on situation in Kashmir in Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Indian Parliament.
Home Minister said that an all party meeting has been convened on Friday in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present to discuss Kashmir situation. Home Minister said security forces have been instructed to exercise maximum restraint in dealing with protests in Kashmir.
He said, although the people are facing hardships, state Government is trying its best to provide basic facilities amidst unrest situation created by some vested interests and misguided elements.
Mr. Singh said their is no question of handing over Kashmir to Army and such rumours are being spread deliberately.
The Home Minister further said the unrest in Kashmir is Pakistan sponsored.
Mr Singh said getting Kashmir will only remain a dream for Pakistan. He said if talks are held with Islamabad, it will be on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and not this part of Kashmir. He alleged some LeT militants are trying to threaten our security personnel and their families in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Home Minister appealed people especially youth of the valley to refrain themselves from indulging in violence. He said 4,515 security personnel and 3,356 civilians have been injured during the protests in Kashmir, so far and hundred ambulances got damaged due to stone pelting.
Initiating the discussion, in the Upper House, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the situation
is indeed serious and it needs to be tackled unitedly. He said politics has to be kept in abeyance to address the core issues to restore peace in the Valley.
Demanding the Prime Minister’s statement in the House, Mr Azad took a dig at Narendra Modi for speaking on the issue in Madhya Pradesh instead of Parliament.
Senior Congress leader Dr Karan Singh said there is a need to continue the dialogue process and the law and order should be restored in the Valley. There is an impression that the state government had failed to take any initiative.
He said Jammu and Kashmir issue is complex political problem and should be dealt accordingly. He suggested that the government should raise the issue of Pakiatan Occupied Kashmir at all international fora to seek its control.
Intervening in the discussion, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh said children of the poorest of the poor are the worst affected by the unrest and those who are fuelling the crisis, their children are staying at safer places out of Kashmir.
He said the youth of Kashmir wants to become the part of India’s success story and they should be weaned away from trouble makers. Dr Singh refuted the allegation that the crisis is because of BJP-PDP coalition government in the state. He asked parties to rise above politics and the need of the hour is political honesty.
Sitaram Yechury of the CPI(M) said mere slogans on Kashmir will not work and the government should come out with concrete plans.
He asked the government to start political dialogue on Kashmir and create an atmosphere of trust in the valley. Mr Yechury said talks about removing Article 370 create distrust and also blamed the successive governments for not implementing their promises.
Nazeer Ahmad Laway of PDP said that Kashmiris are not with the gun but with the country. He favoured not to involve the separatists in the dialogue process.
Mr. Ramgopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party called for sending a strong message to Pakistan not to meddle in Kashmir.
He alleged that Pakistan and ISI are involved in misleading the youth of Kashmir Valley. He said the neighbouring country is sponsoring and supporting those who are involved in anti-India activities.
He demanded the ban on the use of pellet guns. He was supported by Derek O Brien of Trinamool Congress. He said the pellet guns hurting the conscience of Kashmir people.
Sharad Yadav of JD(U) said that Kashmiris should be taken along through dialogue. He said the issue cannot be resolved through bullets.