New Delhi / TIA News
The Supreme Court today said that it will ask the government not to use pellet guns in Jammu and Kashmir if there was no violence, no stone throwing and students get back to classes.
Apex court told the J&K High Court Bar Association to come forward with “positive suggestions” to diffuse the situation, Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said in such a situation they would ask the government not to use pellet guns.
“If you suggest something within the framework of Constitution, we will assure you there will be a dialogue,” the Chief Justice said as leaders of the Bar Association wanted government to hold talks with Hurriyat leaders – currently under house arrest – without conditions.
Giving time to the Bar Association till May 9 to come up with “positive suggestions”, the court said: “You must first tell us what you will do. Then we will direct the government. If you keep throwing stones, how will it work?”
Justice Kaul told the counsel for the HC Bar Association that students have to get back to their colleges and university. Stop this violence. There is so much of unemployment, it is most worrisome.
Taking exception to the affidavit filed by the Bar Association, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said they were even doubting the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India.
He pointed to HC Bar Association of accusing security forces of following a strategy of catch and kill and describing all the elections held till date in the State being rigged.
“They are separatist, what kind of dialogue they want to have. They dispute even accession of J&K. After series of rigged election, the entire “nation” is subjected to State tyranny. Which is this nation they are talking about. I don’t know who these people are”, AG told the court.
He described as “political” as the counsel for J&K HC Bar Association referred to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s decision of unilateral ceasefire.
“Don’t have political debate”, AG told the causal appearing for HC Bar Association.
Making it clear that it will not talk to separatists or those demanding Azadi, the Centre said that it would only talk with people who are legally permitted to speak on behalf of the people.