Govt convenes all party meet on Friday to discuss Kashmir situation
NEW DELHI: Replying to the discussion in Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government is ready for talks with mainstream political parties and moderates in the state.He said an party meeting will be held on Friday noon in New Delhi over the issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend this meeting.
On demand for sending an all party delegation, the Minister said he will speak to state Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and ask her to prepare ground work for it.He assured the house that there is no shortage of any essential items in the valley and state government has taken all necessary measures for distribution of food grains, sugar and LPG cylinders.
Earlier, the opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha unequivocally demanded sending an all-party delegation to the Valley to quell the month-long unrest.They also sought banning the use of pellet guns against the protestors. The parties appealed to all members to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir telling them that they are with them for restoring peace and development.
Initiating the discussion, 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.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.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. 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 Pakistan Occupied Kashmir at all international fora to seek its control.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 involving 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.He also suggested that the House should pass a resolution expressing solidarity with the people of the Valley.
