Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 27: Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said that Jammu and Kashmir cannot find peace if the interventions of the Central Government and the Central agencies does not stop here.
Khurshid was in Jammu for the second and concluding day of “Tawi Kinare, The Jammu Literary Fest” at Abhinav Theater, which was organized by Lehar in collaboration with Dogra Sadar Sabha (Youth Wing). Earlier in the morning, popular actor Anupam Kher hosted a scintillating session on the theme of his signature show, “Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai”.
Khurshid said that the politics of Jammu and Kashmir is stifled by the Central Government. “We think we have a special right on J&K. That’s not right. J&K has a special right on the country. We need conceptual clarity on J&K”, he said, adding that the Indian State always has sporadic reactions to any crisis on Jammu and Kashmir and that is not the answer.
He stated that J&K is too valuable and it is a very critical part of the idea of India. Kashmir is an intrinsic part of the idea of India. This cannot change.
India has to understand that this part of India has a special value. Without J&K, the idea of India will disappear, Khurshid said.
Khurshid said that the Indian State must have a consistent plan on Kashmir. He said that the Indian State reacts to the needs of J&K only at the time of a crisis, adding that Indian State reacts only at the time of a political or natural crisis, like the floods.
He said that the help given by the Indian State to J&K at the time of floods was not prompt. He said Tamil Nadu had fared better than J&K in terms of flood assistance, after the recent floods there.
Speaking on the occasion, Gulchain Singh Charak, president Dogra Sadar Sabha, said that J&K has a special place in the country. He emphasized upon the unique place of Jammu in keeping the secular traditions of the country flourishing.
Academician Prof Rekha Chaudhary said that the problems of Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed on priority basis by the Central Government.
Other panelists who participated in the discussion included Prof Badri Raina, Wali Mohammad Aseer, Prof Nandini Bhattacharya, Dr Sucheta Pathania, Dr Lalit Gupta, Roma Wani and Dr Sushma.
The session was anchored by Pradeep Dutta and whole event was anchored by Ravinder Kaul.
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