After 55 deaths and 31-day curfew in Kashmir, CM reaches Delhi for help
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday in Delhi to discuss the ongoing crisis in Kashmir that has led to an unprecedented 31 days of curfew across the Valley.
Mehbooba discussed the unrest in Kashmir in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces last month, PDP sources said.
Reacting to the development, opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said Mehbooba has finally given up the "business as usual act".
"So @MehboobaMufti has finally given up on her 'business as usual' act and rushed to Delhi instead. The amazing thing is that it's taken 31 days and more than 50 deaths to finally 'disturb' the Chief Minister," Omar wrote on twitter.
As many as 55 persons including two police personnel have been killed and several thousand others injured in the violent protests since July 9.
Earlier in the day, Opposition members in Rajya Sabha urged the Prime Minister to break his silence on the deteriorating situation in Kashmir. Opposition led by Congress demanded initiation of a political process to defuse the crisis that has led to an unprecedented 30 days of curfew across the Valley.
The Opposition parties also demanded stopping the use of pellet guns on protesters, even as one member demanded withdrawal of AFPSA from the Kashmir Valley and withdrawal of the dominating presence of army from civilian areas.
Raising the issue in Zero Hour after his notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of business to discuss the issue was disallowed, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said no state in independent India has seen 30 days of continuous curfew that has paralysed the administration, shut down educational institutions and led to near zero attendance in government offices.
"In such circumstances, we want to awaken the government...We feel the government and the Prime Minister are watching the situation deteriorate like a silent spectator," he said, adding he wanted to know why Modi has spoken on the grave situation in Kashmir so far.
"Hindustan ka Taj jal raha hai, par uski garmi Delhi tak nahi pahuchti (India's crown is burning but the heat hasn't reached Delhi yet)," Azad said.
Over 8,000 people, including security personnel, have been injured while 410 eye surgeries and 1,650 other surgeries are reported to have been done because of the use of pellet guns on protesters, he said.
Observing that 1018 incidents have been reported, he said over 1000 youth are in prison. "Please do not consider this as a law and order issue," Azad told the government.
Citing social media comments on Modi not making any statement on the Kashmir unrest, he said people are eager to listen to his views on the situation. He asked the Prime Minister to call an all-party meeting where political leaders can offer solutions and express their sympathy with the people of Kashmir. This should be followed up with an all-party delegation visiting Kashmir to assuage the feeling, the senior Congress leader added.
