New Delhi: Union home minister Rajnath Singh declared on Wednesday that “no power on earth can take Kashmir from India”, squarely blaming Pakistan for “whatever is happening in Kashmir”.
The government has decided to hold an all-party meeting on Friday on the issue, that will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The home minister also dispelled “deliberate” rumours about the Army taking over control in Kashmir, saying “it was out of the question”.
Responding in the Rajya Sabha to a debate lasting over eight hours, the longest ever on Kashmir in Parliament, and after hearing 29 members, the home minister also promised to consider sending an all-party delegation to the Valley.
He agreed to include all stakeholders, even the moderates, for introspection, while promising “maximum restraint” by security forces in using pellet guns, on which members across party lines demanded an immediate ban.
The home minister, however, spoke sternly while referring to a letter by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the UN on a “plebiscite” in Kashmir, saying: “After assessing the feelings of this House, I can safely say that no power on earth can snatch Kashmir from us,” and added, “If there will be any talks with Pakistan, it will be on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and not Kashmir.”
