Kashmir issue: Salman Khurshid appeals all sections to find a way out

With an all-party delegation visiting Kashmir, minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid today appealed to all sections to "open a window of hope" so as to bring about a change in the mood in the Valley witnessing unrest for the past three months.

He said the visit clearly indicates that the whole country understands the concern and feels the pain of Kashmiri people.

"Today there is a nationwide concern and sensitivity to the pain being felt by the people in Kashmir. I appeal to all sections to open a little window... I hope some wayout is found," Khurshid told reporters here.

On whether he has any fear that the September 24 court decision on Ayodhya could flare up communal passions, the minister said there is a need to remain alert.

"There is no question of fear. But as it happened in the past when communal sentiments were whipped, there is a need to remain alert taking lessons from our experiences," Khurshid said.

Appealing to people to maintain calm, he said this is "not a  dispute which we cannot be solved with mutual understanding".

Asked whether he is in favour of an out of court settlement, the minister said it is not proper to "propound another theory" when a judgement is coming. 

On the fate of the Communal Violence Bill, which seeks to address communal riots more effectively, the minister said the
bill will soon come before Parliament as home ministry and law
ministry have already accommodated the suggestions of civil
groups.

The civil right groups had opposed the bill in its present form after it was cleared by the cabinet.

Khurshid said it's time that the bill is made a law otherwise people start doubting intentions. 

"At some point of time, we need to stop thinking about further improvising the bill, which can be done later also. It's time to bring the bill before Parliament. Home minister and law minister have already made many changes and I hope people will now accept it," he said.

On development issues, Khurshid said the Centre can only grant funds while implementation of the schemes have to be done by the state governments.

Giving figures of the statewide expenditure from the funds released by the Centre for minority welfare, Khurshid said NDA-ruled Bihar could utilise only 19.29% of the  total fund and Left-ruled West Bengal only 13%.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been accusing the Centre of inadequate support to the state for minority development.

Khurshid, however, took a jibe at Kumar without naming him and said those making such complaints should first increase their performance beyond 19%.

"They should spend more first and then seek more," he said adding the Bihar government could spend only over 19% of the Rs121 crore released to it.