Cong asks govt to come clean on return of Pandits

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 28

The Congress today launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government for its performance in the past two years. It urged the J&K Government headed by Mehbooba Mufti to clear its stand on the return and resettlement of the migrant Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

With the NDA government at the Centre completing two years in power, the Congress also attacked the Modi-led government for its “flip-flop” on the Indo-Pakistan relationship and “unprecedented imbalance” in the India-China relationship, particularly the construction of Chinese infrastructure projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

Addressing a press conference here, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan, who was flanked by J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief GA Mir, said the Congress was committed to the “honourable and dignified” return of the Pandits and asked the J&K Government to clear the “confusion”.

“This is a state issue. But, let the PDP-BJP government first come clear and explain what its plan is. As far as the Congress is concerned, we are committed to the dignified return of the community to Kashmir,” Chavan said when asked for his views on the issue.

He, however, refused to comment when asked if the Congress would support the proposal to have separate townships for Pandits.

“It is a hypothetical question. Let the government first spell out its plan.”

Terming the two years of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre a “complete” failure, he said the inflation was on the rise and agriculture production on its lowest.

“Exports have decreased. The trade gap has risen to 106 million dollars. The FDI is not happening. Inflation has risen despite low oil prices,” Chavan said.