Any talks with Pak on Kashmir will be about Pakistan occupied kashmir, says Rajnath
All-party meeting on Friday; PM to attend
Rajnath Singh. — PTI/TV grab
New Delhi, August 10
Sharing the pain of the suffering Kashmiris, Parliament on Wednesday unanimously appealed to people of the Valley to restore peace and harmony even as the government expressed readiness to hold talks with moderate groups and others and decided to call an all-party meet on Friday.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh declared that there is no question of handing over Kashmir to the Army, quashing rumours that are being spread "deliberately".
With regard to dialogue with Pakistan, he said any talks on Kashmir will be about the territories under the occupation of that country.
"No power on earth can snatch Kashmir from us," Rajnath declared, while referring to letter of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the UN seeking 'plebiscite' in Kashmir.
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He also promised to consider sending an all-party delegation to Kashmir, responding to demands made in the Rajya Sabha which discussed the "prevailing situation" in the Valley for over six hours.
Singh, while asserting that he was speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said an all-party meeting will be held on Friday on the Kashmir situation. It will be attended by the Prime Minister.
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.
At the end of the debate in which 29 members from across the political spectrum spoke, the Rajya Sabha unanimously adopted a resolution, saying: “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.
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, 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.
Singh referred to the remarks made by the Prime Minister about 'Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat' yesterday while invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said the government is walking on that path.
"We have decided that on August 12, we will hold an all-party meeting at 12 pm soon after the Parliament session ends and the Prime Minister will be present," he said.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad referred to the word going round in Kashmir that the Valley will be handed over to the Army after the completion of Amarnath Yatra next week.
"We can't even think of it. These rumours are being spread deliberately. Nowadays, anything can be said on social media," Rajnath Singh replied.
"Whatever is happening in Kashmir is not because of people of Kashmir. Whatever is happening is Pakistan-sponsored," he said.
Home Minister lauds Mehbooba
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 Kashmris 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.
Responding to demands for stopping use of pellet guns which have caused most injuries, the Home Minister said such weapons were not used for the first time but earlier also.
"I am not justifying its use by arguing that these were used earlier also," he said, adding he had reviewed the situation to explore other options. A committee has been formed in this regard which has been asked to give report in two months, he added.
He said instructions have been issued to the security forces to exercise "maximum restraint" and added that because of this, 4,515 security personnel have suffered injuries compared to 3,356 civilians.
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 2,564 have been discharged. — PTI
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