During a short-duration discussion on the Kashmir situation, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said while his party stands with the Modi government and the coalition in the state in dealing firmly with militancy, the "excessive use" of force against the common citizens, including children and women, is not acceptable.
For the current unrest, he blamed a number of reasons including BJP's participation in government with PDP in the state, provocative statements made by some leaders of BJP and RSS besides Pakistan, "whose existence is the root cause of all problems."
He also demanded all-party meeting on the issue.
Leader of House Arun Jaitley admitted that the situation in Kashmir was a "matter of concern" but rejected the contention that the violence in the valley was a result of the BJP getting into power at the state.
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Asserting that efforts are underway to restore normalcy at the earliest, he said the entire country should speak in one voice at this time and common man should not be made to suffer there.
determine the kind of force that needs to be used to quell mob violence, Jaitley said while blaming Pakistan for promoting violence in the state.
In his speech, Azad said the government has not learnt from the earlier situation. Reminding that militants were always killed in the state, he said it was a matter of concern that the "present environment" did not exist even during the 1990s and added that youngsters have been killed in all the 10 districts of the Kashmir valley this time.
The Congress leader alleged that bullets and pellets guns were fired mercilessly and spoke of several "horrifying" pictures being circulated through the social media including that of a senior police officer pressing the neck of a young boy with his boots.
Asserting that no one including his party supported militancy, Azad said the Congress stood by the government against any action against militancy.
"But distinction should be made between militants and civilians. The same bullet used to kill militants should not be used to kill children, women and youngsters. Should we treat them as militants? We are with you when it comes to eradication of militants. But we will not be a part of this (heavy use of force against civilians)," he said.
Talking about his government when he was the J&K chief minister, Azad said that while his government dealt with militants sternly, it behaved "like parents to youngsters" and did what was required under a democratic set-up.
He said it was a sign of patriotism on part of Muslims in the country, that despite the highest number of practicing Muslims here, ISIS has not been able to make any headway here except in less than a dozen cases. Both Hindus and Muslims should be proud of this, Azad said.
Observing that provocative statements were being made by some BJP-RSS leaders, he said "the Kashmiris see that action is not being taken. The treatment meted out to Kashmiri students in the name of security also plays in role, back in the valley."
Azad said the Congress wanted the violence to abate as he
appreciated that Muslims in Kashmir did not target the Amarnath Yatra, which helped in this.
He said when a vehicle carrying Amarnath pilgrims met with an accident, the Kashmiri youth came forward and donated blood. He also cited last week's incident when Muslims in a Kashmir locality broke curfew to carry the body of a Hindu man who had died.
"We are not in favour of politicising the issue. We are with government even in a situation of war against Pakistan. We are not here for vote politics. Have courage, take a decision, reform your bad policies and win peoples' confidence. Make it your integral part," Agarwal said.
Alleging that "the paradise on earth is reeling under curfew" due to political reasons, Agarwal said the situation was such that Pakistan Prime Minister had also issued statements. "Every day, Pakistan raises Kashmir issue in the UN", he said and added that "it is time to take a strong decision."
Derek O'Brien (Trinamool) blamed the Centre for
"mishandling the situation" and demanded that "we must extend all help to the families of ordinary people killed there."
Expressing deep pain at the death of children, he alleged that unfortunately instead of harnessing the social media for constructive purposes, BJP was busy using it for PR and happy birthday messages.
Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister, O'Brien said all all his efforts in meeting foreign leaders turned to a nought when UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon expressed regret over the loss of lives and injuries in the clashes in Kashmir. The TMC leader called on all parties to exercise "maximum restraint" to avoid further violence and hoped that all concerns would be addressed through peaceful means.
"Hand over anyone breaking the law to legal process but you deface someone and no action is taken," he said, asserting that security forces should act within the limits of humanity.
At the same time, he said the Kashmir problem cannot be solved by force, power or use of the army as it needed a political solution.
"Why is there a difference between your policy and the one followed by the previous NDA government in tackling the Kashmir issue," he said and added that "political will is needed to resolve the issue".
He also took a jibe at the BJP-PDP alliance in the state and said that the common minimum programme arrived at should be taken ahead.
Yadav also launched a scathing attack on media and asked why the government had failed to restrain them as they continued to show statements by separatists and some others from abroad, which compromised the dignity of the nation.
"Why is this drama allowed...Can't we tell the media to stop showing the propaganda of people supporting Islamic State in India," a visibly upset Yadav said.
Yadav wanted to know as to why the dialogue with
separatist leaders had been stopped.
At the same time, he alleged that "We keep reviving Pakistan through Kashmir and other issues, otherwise it will break under its own burden."
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said he was pained and his "sympathies go out to the families whose youth have been killed in Kashmir. Thirty four youth have been killed and just one police officer has lost his life. This shows the balance of power. Over 1,400 youth are injured with many losing vision. There has been wrong use of pellets."
He urged the government to send medical aid and doctors to Kashmir along with the additional forces it is planning to send.
Referring to Arun Jaitley's counter point, Yechury said, "the Leader of House says that its Pakistan's conspiracy but the question is what are we doing about it. I do not accept that this is only Pakistan's creation or war among India and separatists ...Why are the youth dissatisfied there?.
He demanded a political process.
He said the Home Minister had spoken to him, asking for solutions and he suggested holding of dialogue. "That is the way forward. Where is the feeling of humanity which Vajpayee used to talk about?"
Recalling that a parliamentary delegation had gone to Kashmir during the unrest of 2010, he said it had met the separatist leaders which had "helped ease" the situation.
He asked the government to "at least start the initiative".
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Modi for his Pakistan policy, Yechury said, "what is this blow hot and blow cold by talking about 56 inches chest at one time and going there to eat Biryani at the other."
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Opposing "excessive use of force", Yechury said there should not be any delay in convening an all-party meet. He also stressed the need for shedding the tendency of "Pak hyphenated existence."
Praful Patel (NCP) said Kashmir is reeling under severe crisis and the situation there has never been as worrisome.
He said it was a difficult situation there with the command of separatist movement going to the hands of the youth from the traditional separatist forces.
Patel said he was not blaming the government but efforts should be made to restore peace there.
"The existence of Pakistan army is basically to keep the fight between India and Pakistan alive," he said and added the situation is critical and the government should take action to curb violence.
"Whether Pakistan is involved in the violence is not to be ignored but we must see what we can do to ease the violence," he said.
He also stressed the need for the government to review the economic development in the region in the last two years, contending that tourism had developed in the state but due to present crisis, 15 years of reforms has taken a backseat.
He added that there is no Hindu-Muslim issue in Kashmir as the Amarnath Yatra has been on conducted for years safely there.
Satish Chandra Misra (BSP) said his party expressed hope that Centre and state both would be able to restore peace in the Valley by tackling the situation and Amarnath Yatra will also conclude safely.
Tiruchi Siva (DMK) urged the government to initiate a
"political process" to urgently find a solution to the problem being faced in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also insisted that the government should not resort to "force" to control the situation and instead should focus on providing "healing touch" to people out there.
"Bullets are not the solution. What is required is the healing touch. It should be done within the Constitution and for the humanity. It is a doable exercise," he said.
The problem now in Kashmir is not due to law and order situation. "Only statesman approach is required. Political process should start to bring a solution at the earliest."
Karan Singh, veteran Congress leader and son of last Dogra Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, suggested the government to initiate "dialogue" with all stakeholders including Pakistan and separatists to address the situation.
Blaming Pakistan for fanning the issue, Singh said, "It has done all through. It will continue to do. Simply to submit to a foreign land is unrealistic. ...There is only one way we can address the situation. That is through dialogue."
"It must be dialogue that cuts across all stakeholders. You must talk to them. How can we come to conclusion without talking?" he said.
Though several dialogues have been initiated with Pakistan in the last several years, but they were not followed up, he added.
Emphasising the urgent need to break the deadlock, Singh said sending an all-party delegation to Kashmir will not help, instead a small group should be sent to the Valley to find solution and take it to conclusion.
"If we have to avoid the crisis like this in future, we have to break away from old mould of thinking and move towards dynamic thinking," he said, adding that the issue should not looked in a partisan manner.
Narendra Kumar Swain (BJD) suggested sending of an
all-party delegation to J&K and chalk out a thorough strategy to counter terrorism.
Assering that the Kashmir issue is a political problem, for which a political solution is required, D Raja (CPI) said, "The government should have open mind and initiate dialogue with all stakeholders including separatists. We must find political solution."
To begin with, he suggested the government to repeal fully or partially the Armed Forces Special Power and withdraw armed forces from civilian areas in the state.
He also said that the government should initiate dialogue with Pakistan and find amicable solution to restore normalcy in the Valley.
Stating that there is growing discontent among youth in Kashmir, Raja said the government should make efforts win their trust and heart.
People in J&K are "antagonised and alienated" as some of "your people (BJP) are talking about changing the demographic composition in the state and questioning Aritcle 370 guaranteed to the state, he said.
"Why is this conflict between our own citizens? Is Kashmir a law and order problem? Kashmir issue has always been a political problem, for which political solution is required," he noted.
Shamsher Singh Manhas (BJP) said there is a need to keep political difference away and address the issue.
"We should rise above politics to address this issue. We should keep political differences away," he said, adding that the state chief minister is making efforts to restore peace and normaly in the Valley.
Sanjay Raut (SS) also favoured sending an all-party
delegation to Kashmir and intitiate "heart-to-heart" dialogue with all stakeholders.
"There is no point if a delegation visits only once. It should do so on a regular basis to establish peace," he said, adding that other political parties should work at ground level to win the trust of the people.
Defending the firing in the state, Raut said the security forces and police resort to firing as they were under "tremendous pressure" to protect the area and control the "uncontrolled crowd".
Noting that the roots of terrorims are in border areas of Kashmir, Raut claimed that Burhan Wani, who was spreading terror in the Valley, was getting all support from Pakistan.
"Wani was recruiting young people for a terror outfit. He was a posterboy," he said, adding, "If a bloody terrorist (Wani) is killed and after which a protest march is taken and a violence breaks out, who is responsible?"
"Whenever a terrorist is killed in Kashmir or a terrorist is hanged in Delhi, protests are seen in Kashmir. The roots of terrorism are in border areas of Kashmir. The way violence breaks out is dangerous for the country," he said.
"If Pakistan is observing black day for killing of Wani, it should observe all 365 days as India will continue to kill such terrorists. People like Burhan Wani should be identified and taken to the task," he said.
Emphasising the need to "introspect, restrospect and prospect" on the Kashmir issue, Abhishek Manu Singhvi (Cong) said, "The Opposition has provided unstinted support to the government on this issue. The government should not take it lightly."
To address the issue, he suggested that the coalition government in J&K should rise above the differences and work together for welfare of the state.
"It is an open secret that the goverment (in J&K) has differences of opinion. First, there is a need to address differences within the government before fighting against separatists," he said.
Stating that Pakistan's trouble shooting and trouble making exercise was expected, Singhvi said, "So, we have to show consistency in our policy. We have to give clear, consistent and unwavering message."
He sought to know why armed forces did not follow the standard operative procedures in the Valley. "Why they resorted to pellets when other means like water, smoke were to be used intially to control the crowd."
He also said that the government should take steps to contain ISIS elements.