*PDP disapproves of Modi’s criticism
NEW DELHI, July 20:
PDP, the ruling party of Jammu and Kashmir, today rejected the contention that the unrest in the State is because of its alliance with BJP and blamed the actions by Congress and National Conference since 1948 for the loss of trust in democracy among the people of the Valley.
In a strong and emotional speech in the Lok Sabha during discussion on Kashmir situation, senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig said the Government of India should use its moral authority to resolve the problems of the State rather than using military authority.
Slamming Pakistan for its interference in Kashmir, he said people of the Valley are being “misguided” and expressed faith in the Modi Government, saying “if you can’t do it (resolve the problems), who can do it?”
He wondered whether Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani, whose killing in an encounter with security forces has triggered the unrest, could have been arrested instead of being gunned down.
In this context, the former Minister of Jammu and Kashmir cited examples of how some militants had earlier given up the gun and contested elections to join the mainstream.
Rejecting allegations by critics like Congress that the current unrest is due to PDP joining hands with BJP to form Government, Baig said, “nobody can accuse them (BJP) of being traitors”.
Seeking to turn tables on opponents, he went back into history and clearly blamed Congress and National Conference, without naming them, for repeated controversial actions since 1948 when Prajapati Parishad was not allowed to contest polls.
He said Kashmiris lost faith in democracy due to actions like installing “un-elected Governments” and dismissing elected Governments since 1948 besides rigging elections.
He said the rigging of 1987 polls, allegedly by National Conference-Congress combine, was the “deepest cut” to the faith of Kashmiris in democracy as these elections had been contested even by those who did not believe in the Indian Constitution but wanted to repose trust in the poll process.
In this regard, he gave the example of the chief of militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, whose original name is Mohd Yusuf Shah, contesting the elections which were “rigged”.
Baig said Yasin Malik, now the JKLF chief, was Shah’s polling agent and was “tortured” by police after National Conference-Congress came to power following 1987 elections.
Taking objection to certain remarks of Baig against Congress, party member K C Venugopal said the message should be given that the country is united on the Kashmir issue.
Referring to historical incidents, the PDP leader said a “fraud” had been played on Kashmiris by propagating that they are not pro-India and are pro-Pakistan.
Blasting Pakistan for interfering in Kashmir, Baig said the neighbouring country had become a victim of its own policies and as a result it has Balochistan “burning” and faces problems in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Appreciating efforts of the Central Government, Baig disapproved of criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Kashmir situation, saying he should not be dragged in each and every issue.
Referring to criticism in certain quarters that Modi was playing drums during his Africa visit when Kashmir was burning, Baig said the Prime Minister was “making history (in Africa)”.
According to him, a kind of romanticism is being made about terrorism, which has become a business.
Talking about Wani’s killing, Baig wondered whether he could have been arrested. “Was it possible to arrest or inevitable to kill?… He (Wani) was not an invisible ghost or an Osama Bin Laden… At least for the sake of having a good judgement, it should be looked into whether Wani could have been arrested,” he said.
Taking objection to certain anti-Muslim remarks made by a leader whom he did not name, Baig said, “Muslims are as good an Indian as the Prime Minister… And Kashmiris are as good an Indian as Rajnath Singh.”
When Venugopal intervened, the PDP leader said, “Aap logon ne hamari awaaz dabayi hai (you people have suppressed our voice)”.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs S S Ahluwalia told Venugopal that if “we don’t allow him to speak in the tallest temple of democracy, then where is he going to speak”.
He said Baig would continue to cite historical facts.
Referring to demands for dialogue, the PDP leader said Hurriyat Conference should help in restoring peace in the Valley.
He said while violence was taking place in south Kashmir, capital Srinagar was calm. “After this (his statement), it (violence) may spread to Srinagar also, he added.
“After this speech, I might be killed or my family might be targeted,” Baig said, adding, however, that he did not care and would state the facts.
Coming down heavily on Pakistan, the PDP leader said whenever hands of peace are extended by India, those hands are snapped by the other side.
Underlining that there should be no killings, he said he feels sad for Wani’s parents “who would have had lots of hope from him that he would take care of them in old age.”
He said he also cries for the security personnel from various parts of the country who get killed while performing their duties in the Valley.
Meanwhile, the Modi Government and PDP-BJP dispensation of Jammu and Kashmir today came under attack in the Lok Sabha over the unrest in the Valley, with opposition alleging their failure to address the situation and pressing for a political solution.
As the House took up a discussion on the ongoing trouble in Kashmir, various parties demanded sending an all-party delegation to the Valley even as Anurag Thakur, speaking on behalf of the ruling BJP, said every political party should come together and help in dealing with such situations.
Initiating the debate, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said over the last two years, since the BJP Government came to power at the Centre, the situation in the Valley has “deteriorated” and has become “disappointing”.
Alleging failure on part of the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir Government, he said, “The work done by our Government in the last 10 years was undone by this Government. They see everything from the rear mirror. BJP-PDP has shunned all principles…We have to heal the wounds with humanity.”
The Government is claiming that it is moving in ever sector but reality is different.
“This Government has miserably failed to restore peace in the Valley. There is an environment of insecurity and fear ….44 people have died and 3140, half of them security personnel, are wounded and this Government puts the onus on the State….I would like to ask questions. How many more deaths will happen? When they will get up from sleep,” he said.
Scindia said the people of Kashmir are facing huge problems as there is curfew since the last 12 days.
“What was the reason? Why no one from the Central Government visited Kashmir to review the situation… Infiltration is happening and our Defence Minister is distributing LED bulbs in Goa,” he said.
Citing the case of a boy and a girl who had allegedly gone blind due to pellet gun use by security forces, Scindia said “this Government uses lethal weapons against innocent people.”
While attacking the Government, the Congress leader alleged that there was an “environment of communalism” and “intolerance” in the country and referred to incidents like Dadri lynching and Hyderabad University issue.
He said people making non-responsible statements and the Government is not taking any action against them.
The Congress leader said Pakistan “is guilty” for this situation in Kashmir but “one should also introspect if there are some shortcomings in us also.”
He said Modi has condoled the attacks in other parts of the world but never said even a single word on Kashmir.
He said the Government should secure the country’s borders. “I request this Govenment. Secure our borders. Secure our people before it gets too late. Act and act with a plan,” he said.
He said after returning from Africa visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called a high level meeting but the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister was not present.
He questioned whether this was the “cooperative federalism” that this Government keeps talking about.
The UPA Government had taken several steps and worked with all the stakeholders to maintain the peaceful environment and boost development of Kashmir but since this Government came into the power, the GDP of the Valley has declined by 7 per cent.
He said incidents of infiltration and casualty of soldiers is on the rise and this Government is behaving like a “silent spectator”.
During the discussion, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju intervened and said the Congress leader should not mislead the House with “wrong facts”.
Scindia said the Pakistan policy of this Government is “surprising”.
“They (BJP) claimed that they would bring 10 heads (of Pakistanis) in case of one death…But today you are giving statements,” he said.
Scindia noted that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given call for observing ‘black day’ and described Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen militant killed in encounter, as a “martyr”.
On the other hand, “our Foreign Ministry is only saying that please do not give such wrong statements. What can be more unfortunate than this? …The foreign policy of this Government has been failed completely,” he said.
This Government failed on five issues including controlling terorists’ activities, he said.
The Congress leader said an all-party delegation should be sent to Kashmir.
BJP member Anurag Thakur, while acknowledging that situation in Jammu and Kashmir is “grave” and “special, said it is very easy to level allegations.
He said every political party should come together and help in dealing with these situations. “We have to work together to create a conducive environment in the State,” he said.
Referring to demands by opposition parties for holding dialogue, Thakur wondered with whom talks could be held as it appears that the current bout of mob violence is leadersless.
He said if separatist Hurriyat Conference was in control, it should help in restoring peace which is the first priority.
The BJP leader advised those indulging in mob violence to think about their poor Kashmiri brethren, mainly those depending on daily earnings, whose livelihood has been affected badly due to the unrest.
He criticised the special status to the State and raised questions with regard to reasons for emergence of the current unrest in the state.
Citing data, he said the terrorist violence has decreased to 222 in 2014 from 1990 in 2005 and infiltration cases reduced to 222 in 2014 from 557 in 2005.
“I congratulate both this and the previous Government for this and also congratulate the soldiers who are securing our borders,” Thakur said.
About stone-pelting, he said it was not a new phenomena as it had happened even as back as in 1980s. In 2010, he said, stone-pelting incidents took place for three consecutive months.
Responding to opposition attack over use of pellet guns, he said these weapons had been used for the first time during violence in 2010 when the state was ruled by National Conference and UPA was in power at the Centre.
“It is this Government which has announced several steps to boost growth and development in the state,” he said adding the Prime Minister announced new stadium, power projects, medical collges, AIIMS and IIMs.
“The PDP-BJP Government will do development in six years of its tenure,” Thakur said, adding, however, for that the State needs to have peace.
He said Modi had even celebrated Diwali in that State. (PTI)
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