Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "silence" on the Kashmir unrest and also demanded compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each victim of violence in Gujarat's Una.
Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "silence" on the Kashmir unrest and also demanded compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each victim of violence in Gujarat's Una besides action against guilty policemen.
"The Prime Minister is in Gorakhpur today and talks big. But he did not talk of Kashmir or Dalits, as he normally speaks on almost everything. "Today people of Kashmir are waiting for the Prime Minister to make a statement to show that he is concerned about Jammu and Kashmir and is applying balm on their wounds," Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal said. He said that Modi, who speaks on almost everything, is silent on the issue.
"Why is the Prime Minister silent? Such a big incident happened where there is your government? All that has happened in Kashmir is under his government and the Prime Minister has not spoken anything in Parliament or outside," he said. On the issue of rising atrocities on Dalits, Sibal questioned the Prime Minister's silence and said, "Shouldn't he have apologised to Mayawati ji?"
Regarding the violence in Una, he said an independent team of Dalit Adhikar Manch has claimed that the police was aware of the violence that took place there. They have also said that there should be action against the erring policemen, compensation of Rs 10 lakh be given to each of the victims of atrocities and book all those involved.
"Congress party agrees with them as it is a serious issue and not an isolated incident. We demand that compensation of Rs 10 lakh be given to all the victims of atrocities in Una, their statements be recorded in court under section 164 CRPC and all guilty cops be booked and all 30 persons involved in the incident be booked," Sibal said.
"It took the police 6 hours to file an FIR. Nearly 30 people were allegedly involved, yet less than a third were arrested and only 8 were booked in the FIR," he wondered.
He also took a dig at Modi, saying he is taking swings in Gujarat and speaking in Gorakhpur. "I wonder if the country will have an NRI Prime Minister for the first time in its history," he said.
BJP promises to restore peace in the Valley
Ahead of the two-day visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to the Kashmir Valley, BJP today did not rule out talks with separatists and said it would do "whatever is necessary" to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Whatever is necessary for restoration of peace will be done," BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal said. Lal was asked whether there will be talks with the separatists to end the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, which has claimed 45 lives.
"The coalition of BJP and PDP was formed for peace and development of the state and we would ensure that there is peace and development," he said.
Lal met party leaders and discussed various issues, including the prevailing situation in Kashmir. "Several issues concerning the party were discussed in the meetings and the feedback will be conveyed to the party leadership in Delhi," he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh parried a direct reply to the question whether the government will hold talks with separatists to end unrest in Kashmir.
"Our priority is to bring normalcy in the valley, that is our priority and after that we will see...," he said when asked whether the government will holds talks with the separatists.
Asked whether such talks would be held in future as the 'Agenda of Alliance' between BJP and PDP states that dialogue would be held with all the stakeholders including separatists, Singh said, "When the time will come, definitely." Asked whether the Home Minister would meet the separatists, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "I don't think right now he is going to speak (to them), he is going to meet the people who want to meet him."
The Deputy Chief Minister also dismissed the demand of an inquiry into the killing of Wani. "I don't think there is a demand from PDP and the state government does not subscribe to the view (of holding an inquiry)," he said.
The Union Home Minister will visit Kashmir for two days from tomorrow in a bid to calm down tension in the valley.
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