Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 17: The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, today asked Kashmiris to restrain themselves over the issue of beef ban as the matter is very sensitive for the country.
The senior Congress leader requested people of Kashmir to control their emotions and not to allow situation to worsen. “I request the brothers and the youth of Kashmir not to play by your emotions in such situations…that can ruin the situation. We have always seen in Kashmir that whenever we have worked using our hearts and minds, the situation has become better here but the situation deteriorates when we have used our emotions”, he added.
Azad asked people of Kashmir to look beyond Kashmir valley while reacting to such emotive issues. “We don’t have to just look upto Banihal, but whatever step we take, we have to see what effect it will have in many parts of the State and the country,” he said.
The Congress MP while urging people to think of entire country on issues like beef ban that act like sparks which could take the shape of a huge fire. “So, I request all not to play by their emotions, but have patience and think of the whole country and each district of the State and then take a decision,” he said.
The leader of Opposition in RS said beef ban issue is very sensitive for entire country especially Kashmir. “Sometimes the decisions of the Government or the courts become bitter. And people get angry either individually or collectively with such decisions. But this decision, this law, is very sensitive for the whole country and especially for Kashmir”, he added.
When asked about the National Conference resolution in the Legislative Council seeking amendments in Sections of RPC on beef ban, Azad said his party will discuss the issue with like-minded parties when the Autumn session begins on October 3. “When Assembly starts, we will see it then (whether to bring a bill or support anyone seeking amendments in the law banning slaughter of bovine animals). Congress, NC and other like-minded bodies will meet and decide on it,” he said.
The former Chief Minister slammed Centre over continued ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB). “Fifty percent reason for the win of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in elections was that they raked up the issue of Pakistan and instigated the sentiments of people, saying their Government would be strong that will not bow down before Pakistan…But, since then there have been record number of ceasefire violations. The innocent people including army and BSF soldiers are dying on border”, he said.
Azad alleged that the Centre and the Delhi Government have failed to fight dengue, and lack of coordination between them is the reason the disease has assumed serious proportions in the national capital.
“The present BJP Government at the Centre, the Delhi Government and the (Delhi) Municipal Corporation have failed to fight dengue,” Leader of Opposition said.
Congress leader blamed its spread over the lack of coordination between governments. “There is no arrangement in the hospitals. Also, there is no coordination between the Governments and that is why dengue has assumed serious proportions,” he said.
The former Union Health Minister said that the danger of the disease loomed when Commonwealth Games were going on in Delhi in 2010, but the UPA Government contained it. “In 2010, when international games were going on, there was a danger of dengue. We had made a protocol and the present Government had to do nothing but work on the same protocol which we have worked on for the past five years,” he added.
Earlier, Azad met the protesting National Youth Corps (NYC) employees who are on hunger strike from last 16 days and are demanding implementation of a Cabinet order of 2014 vis-à-vis their inclusion in Government departments.
Azad expressed solidarity with the NYC employees and assured them that he will take up their issue with Chief Minister and Prime Minister and appealed them to break their fast.
The Congress leader urged the Central Government not to disband the NYC scheme but recruit 6000 more unemployed youths and implement the Cabinet order to contain the issue of unemployment in Valley and in remote regions of Jammu Division.
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