Kashmir unrest: Last 10 years' work undone by this government, says opposition

The Modi government and PDP-BJP dispensation of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday came under attack in the Lok Sabha over the unrest in the Valley, with the opposition alleging their failure to address the situation and pressing for a political solution.

As the House took up a discussion on the ongoing trouble in Kashmir, various parties demanded sending an all-party delegation to the Valley even as Anurag Thakur, speaking on behalf of the ruling BJP, said every political party should come together and help in dealing with such situations.

Initiating the debate, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said over the last two years, since the BJP government came to power at the Centre, the situation in the Valley has "deteriorated" and has become "disappointing".

Alleging failure on part of the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government, he said, "The work done by our government in the last 10 years was undone by this government. They see everything from the rear mirror. BJP-PDP has shunned all principles...we have to heal the wounds with humanity." The government is claiming that it is moving in ever sector but reality is different.

"This government has miserably failed to restore peace in the valley. There is an environment of insecurity and fear ....44 people have died and 3140, half of them security personnel, are wounded and this government puts the onus on the state....I would like to ask questions. How many more deaths will happen? When they will get up from sleep," he said.
Scindia said the people of Kashmir are facing huge problems as there is curfew since the last 12 days.

"What was the reason? Why no one from the central government visited Kashmir to review the situation...Infiltration is happening and our Defence Minister is distributing LED bulbs in Goa," he said. 

Citing the case of a boy and a girl who had allegedly gone blind due to pellet gun use by security forces, Scindia said "this government uses lethal weapons against innocent people."
While attacking the government, the Congress leader alleged that there was an "environment of communalism" and "intolerance" in the country and referred to incidents like the Dadri lynching case and the Hyderabad University issue.

He said people making non-responsible statements and the government is not taking any action against them. The Congress leader said Pakistan "is guilty" for this situation in Kashmir but "one should also introspect if there are some shortcomings in us also."

He said Modi has condoled the attacks in other parts of the world but never said even a single word on Kashmir. He said the government should secure the country's borders. "I request this government. Secure our borders. Secure our people before it gets too late. Act and act with a plan," he said.

He said after returning from Africa visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called a high level meeting but the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister was not present.
He questioned whether this was the "cooperative federalism" that this government keeps talking about.

The UPA government had taken several steps and worked with all the stakeholders to maintain the peaceful environment and boost development of Kashmir but since this government came into the power, the GDP of the valley has declined by 7 per cent. He said incidents of infiltration and casualty of soldiers is on the rise and this government is behaving like a "silent spectator".

During the discussion, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju intervened and said the Congress leader should not mislead the House with "wrong facts".

Scindia said the Pakistan policy of this government is "surprising". "They (BJP) claimed that they would bring 10 heads (of Pakistanis) in case of one death...but today you are giving statements," he said. 

Scindia noted that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given call for observing 'black day' and described Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen militant killed in encounter, as a "martyr".

On the other hand, "our foreign ministry is only saying that please do not give such wrong statements. What can be more unfortunate than this? ...the foreign policy of this government has been failed completely," he said. This government failed on five issues including controlling terorists' activities, he said. The Congress leader said an all-party delegation should be sent to Kashmir.

BJP member Anurag Thakur, while acknowledging that situation in Jammu and Kashmir is "grave" and "special, said it is very easy to level allegations.
He said every political party should come together and help in dealing with these situations. "We have to work together to create a conducive environment in the state," he said.
Referring to demands by opposition parties for holding dialogue, Thakur wondered with whom talks could be held as it appears that the current bout of mob violence is leaderless.
He said if separatist Hurriyat Conference was in control, it should help in restoring peace which is the first priority.
The BJP leader advised those indulging in mob violence to think about their poor Kashmiri brethren, mainly those depending on daily earnings, whose livelihood has been affected badly due to the unrest.

He criticised the special status to the state and raised questions with regard to reasons for emergence of the current unrest in the state. Citing data, he said the terrorist violence has decreased to 222 in 2014 from 1990 in 2005 and infiltration cases reduced to 222 in 2014 from 557 in 2005. "I congratulate both this and the previous government for this and also congratulate the soldiers who are securing our borders," Thakur said.

About stone-pelting, he said it was not a new phenomena as it had happened even as back as in 1980s. In 2010, he said, stone-pelting incidents took place for three consecutive months.

Responding to opposition attack over use of pellet guns, he said these weapons had been used for the first time during violence in 2010 when the state was ruled by National Conference and UPA was in power at the Centre.

"It is this government which has announced several steps to boost growth and development in the state," he said adding the Prime Minister announced new stadium, power projects, medical colleges, AIIMS and IIMs.

"The PDP-BJP government will do development in six years of its tenure," Thakur said, adding, however, that for that the state needs to have peace. He said Modi had even celebrated Diwali in that state.