Oppn questions govt on J&K policy

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 16

The Opposition on Saturday questioned the government on its Jammu and Kashmir policy and its attitude towards political opponents in the Valley.

This was at the all-party meeting in Parliament, presided over by Union Home Rajnath Singh, to brief them on the Pulwama attack, emergent security situation and government’s action.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad (Congress) demanded convening a meeting of presidents of all parties by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the Pulwama attack and related issues. Other leaders, including National Conference’s Farooq Adullah and Left parties, also backed his demand.

The Home Minister was non-committal to the demand. The leaders expressed concerns at post-Pulwama violence in various parts of the country and the government’s inability to tackle it. They asked the Centre to issue an advisory to all states to stop such incidents as these would suit the country’s enemies.

Leaders of two political parties said Abdullah flayed the government for tampering with security of Valley-based leaders opposed to the government. “If the political leader and representative of people are made to live in house arrest and their movements curtailed due to lack of security, they would not be able to go in public to spread message against terror,” Abdullah was quoted to have said at the meeting. When Rajnath Singh responded saying he was not aware of the development, Azad joined Abdullah reminding the minister he had raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha.

Opposition leaders expressed reservation that the government is addressing the J&K problem only through the prism of law and order. They said it “is a political problem” and pitched for a dialogue with all stakeholders.

Sources said TMC leaders were reluctant to sign the resolution saying it was no circulated in advance and needed to consult party leader Mamata Banerjee.