Accusing the Centre of being rife with contradictions over their policy regarding Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress on Monday said that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's recent tough stand on the Valley was on a whole different tangent from that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was batting for a dialogue to find a lasting solution to the unrest in the state.
Addressing a press conference here, Congress leader Manish Tewari said that even after 44 days, the situation in Kashmir has not abated and that there has been no respite.
"The Finance Minister went to Jammu and Kashmir and his comments implied that he felt there was no need for dialogue. He also said that the solution for the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is development. Mr. Jaitley, probably because BJP won seats from Jammu, said that this region was its priority," Tewari said.
Listing the contradictions within the Centre regarding the Valley, he further said that instead of saying that it will treat Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh equally, the partner in the State Government is saying one region is a priority.
The Congress leader added that the Prime Minister said that in JK, his policies would be based on "insaniyat, jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat".
"The Prime Minister, when he met Opposition members from JK, spoke of dialogue, apparently contradicting his Finance Minister. What is PM Modi's definition of insaniyat? Is insaniyat used as a balm on for those harmed in this sensitive time? What does he mean by jamhooriyat? Parties have been contesting election for decades in JK. What does Kashmiriyat mean to the PM? How does he include it in his policies? Are there, indeed, any policies on these?," Tewari said.
Stating that the 'essence' of Jaitley's statement was that there is not political problem in JK but a developmental one, he added that Prime Minister Modi on the other hand has been using 'insaniyat, jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat' for three years without understanding the essence of the three concepts.
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"And in an apparent contradiction of his own Finance Minister, the Prime Minister talks of a dialogue. If he is talking of a dialogue, it is going to be a dialogue with whom? All the mainstream parties are part of the democratic process. In essence, it seems that the Finance Minister is not on the same page," Tewari said.
The strong reaction from the grand old party comes in the wake of the Prime Minister emphasising on the need for dialogue to find a lasting solution within the framework of the Constitution to the unrest in the Valley.
Prime Minister Modi conveyed that his government and the nation stand with the state of Jammu and Kashmir and suggested that all political parties should reach out to the people and convey the same.
Earlier, Jaitley had lashed out at Pakistan, accusing them of having a direct hand in the Kashmir unrest, adding that there will be absolutely no compromise on the security and the unity of the nation and those instigating violence will also not be spared.
Speaking at a Tiranga Yatra rally Sunday in Samailpur in JK, Jaitley said there will be "no compromise" with separatists and those indulging in violence.
"Once again, they have attacked India's integrity in a new way. it's a big challenge for the country. we cannot compromise with the security and integrity of the nation. The policy should be clear that in this fight against separatists, people of both Jammu and Kashmir will stand with the country to once again defeat this new phase of Pakistan-sponsored war being fought by its stooges." Jaitley said.
The Jammu and Kashmir opposition submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday over the unrest in the Valley stating that it needed a 'political' solution and asserted that Pakistan was not solely responsible for the state of violence.
Asserting that both the State and the Central government have failed in finding a solution to the soaring violence in the Valley, NC chief Omar Abdullah said that the problem in the state is a political one and cannot be handled administratively.