New Delhi: Sharing the pain and sufferings of Kashmiris, Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed unanimous resolution, expressing sympathies over deaths in Kashmir and vowed to instill faith among people of the Valley.
Addressing the House at the end of the debate in which 29 members from across the political spectrum spoke, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the protests in the Valley are Pakistan sponsored and declared that no power in the world can wrest Jammu and Kashmir from India, while referring to letter of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the UN seeking 'plebiscite' in Kashmir.
“I have no hesitation in saying that whatever is happening in Kashmir is sponsored by Pakistan. If there will be talks with Pakistan, there won't be a discussion on Kashmir but on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK),” said Rajnath Singh with regard to dialogue with Pakistan.
“Today's debate is an example of healthy democracy. We are making efforts to ensure normalcy is restored in the Valley,” he added.
While replying to the debate during which demands were made for stopping the use of pellet guns, Singh said instructions have been issued to security forces to exercise "maximum restraint" but there will be no compromise on national security and pro-Pakistan slogans on the Indian soil will not be tolerated in any case.
“We are not trying to justify the use of pellet guns but we need to discuss the possibility of using other non-lethal weapons. We have a committee and we hope to find an alternative in 2 months,” says Singh.
Singh declared that there is no question of handing over Kashmir to the Army, quashing rumours that are being spread "deliberately".
The minister assured that state government is trying its best to provide basic facilities amidst the situation of unrest created by some misguided elements with vested interest.
He also informed that over 4,500 security personnel and 3,300 civilians have been injured in Jammu and Kashmir during protests and forces have been directed to exercise restraint as much as possible.
Giving details of the injuries caused during the unrest that started after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, he said 100 were still hospitalised, 51 with eye injuries, while 2564 have been discharged.
The Home Minister informed the House that 100 ambulances were destroyed by stone-pelting yet 400 more ambulances have been deployed.
The Home Minister said even during curfew, hospitals have treated five lakh normal patients in OPDs and 8,000 surgeries were conducted. Some of the injured were brought to AIIMS in Delhi and another hospital in Mumbai.
Responding to demands for initiating a political process in Kashmir, the Home Minister said the government is ready to have talks with mainstream parties, moderates and others. "We are ready. I will ask the Chief Minister where to start the process and with whom to talk, on which issues," he added. "We will also talk, you also talk, and we all are ready to talk. That is why there is talk of sending all-party delegation…Once the ground work is done, then we will talk to the Chief Minister that if the delegation has to go, whom all to meet there," he said.
An all-party meeting is to be held on Kashmir issue on August 12, the day monsoon session ends and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it, said Rajnath Singh.
He lauded Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, saying she and her government had done a good job in this difficult situation. In this regard, he gave details about how much ration, milk and other daily essentials have been distributed in Kashmir even during the curfew.
He insisted that only some parts of Kashmir, and not the entire valley, are under curfew and that in rest of the places, markets are closed due to "fear" owing to strike called by separatists. "I can't say Kashmiris are living normal life but despite all odds, state government is making efforts to minimise their inconvenience," Singh said.
He blamed "vested interests" for the trouble and said the state government was trying to normalise the situation.
"The people of Kashmir should realise that our hearts beat equally for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (three regions of the state), as any other part of the country," the Home Minister said.
Responding to questions by some members as to why the Prime Minister had spoken outside and not in Parliament, Singh said he "has made me the Home Minister and I have rights. He has confidence in me and whatever I say reflects the same sentiments as his."
Contending that he keeps discussing the Kashmir issue with Modi, Singh said, "one can feel his (PM's) sentiments by what he said yesterday (in Madhya Pradesh)."
Rejecting the notion that the trouble in Kashmir is because of unemployment, Singh noted that at times, flags of ISIS and pro-Pakistan slogans are raised in Kashmir. He condemned ISIS, saying it is anti-Muslim and has killed those believing in Islam. "I want to tell people of Kashmir that Islam does not allow killings. Those who raise such ISIS flags are trying to defame Islam," he said.
"Pro-Pakistan slogans will not be tolerated on this soil... Raising slogans against the country is not right. I want to appeal to people to stop those indulging in such things," Singh said.
He said somebody may praise Islam, Hinduism or any religion but raising slogans praising Pakistan won't be allowed.
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants are trying to threaten the families of security forces, the Home Minister said.
Talking about "effective" steps taken by the state government, he said these include recruitment in central paramilitary forces and 10,000 as Special Police Officers.
Besides two AIIMS and IIM are being set up and scholarships are being distributed. With regard to security of Kashmiris studying in other parts of the country, the Home Minister said he will write to all state CMs and tell them, if necessary, develop a system of building relationship between locals and Kashmiris.
Singh praised all parties for speaking in unison on Kashmir during the "high quality" discussion, saying it reflects the spirit of healthy democracy. "In 20 years, I have seen for the first time such a lengthy discussion on Kashmir... We should be proud of such a Parliament," he said.
Rajnath ended his address saying all religions and communities are respected and he urged people not raise slogans against the nation. 'Insaniyat, Jamooriyat, Kashmiriyat' and dialogue is the way forward, said Rajnath.
The resolution said: "This House expresses its serious concern over the prolonged turbulence, violence and curfew in the Kashmir valley."
It added that the House "conveys its deep sense of anguish and concern over the loss of lives and critical injuries caused by the deteriorating situation."
The resolution asserted that the House "is of the firm and considered view that while there cannot be any compromise on national security, it is equally an imperative that urgent steps are taken to restore order and peace for the alleviation of the sufferings of the people."
The House "earnestly appeals to all sections of the society in Jammu and Kashmir, to work for the early restoration of normalcy and harmony and unanimously resolves to restore the confidence among the people in general and youth in particular," it said.
Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition and Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad had hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to make any statement in the Parliament on the ongoing Kashmir unrest. "Prime Minister Modi tweets on events across the world, but he was silent on Kashmir crisis. When something happens in Africa, the Prime Minister tweets about it. But when the Taj of India is burning, the heat is not reaching the central government," Azad said.
“We did not hear Prime Minister's statement on Dalit issues here in the Parliament. We got to hear about his views from Telangana. We have been repetitively demanding that the PM should come and make statements on such issues,” Azad added.
He also attacked Modi for quoting former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Madhya Pradesh, when he touched upon the topic of Kashmir. "Vajpayee's words do not suit Prime Minister Modi," said Azad on Modi's assertion that his government believes in Vajpayee’s mantra of ‘Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat’.
On Tuesday, Modi had reached out to the people of Kashmir and indicated his willingness to hold dialogue under the framework of the 'Insaniyat (humanity), Jamhuriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat'.
He said that when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, he had adopted the path of 'Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat' and the present government walks the same road.
