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Azad seeks multilateral dialogue on Kashmir

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/17/2017 9:58:45 AM

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR, Jul 16: Senior Congress leader and leader of the opposition in Rajia Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad during an all party meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday sought resumption of dialogue over Kashmir with both the separatist leadership and the government of Pakistan, action against cow vigilantes across India and trade protection for minorities in the country.
He also voiced his serious concern over army intervention in China in Sikkim sector.
Participating in the discussion at the all party meeting Azad sought the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh towards the prevailing situation in Kashmir and said, “The militancy is a challenge army, paramilitaries and states police is facing for the last twenty seven years but for the first time the normal activity of the government has come to a grinding halt due to prevailing situation in Kashmir.”
Regretting that central government was using arm twisting methods to silence dissenting voices in Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said, “Gun is not solution to the Kashmir crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, there is a political problem and has to be tackled at political levels unfortunately the government has shut all doors and windows for dialogue and not even a ventilator for dialogue has been kept open to allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to run their normal lives smoothly.”
“Coalition governments were running affairs of the state in past also but the people were allowed to run normal life. Dialogue with both the separatist leadership and the government of Pakistan is the only way to restore peace and political stability in Jammu and Kashmir state,” he said.
Touching upon the issue of the recent attacks of cow vigilantes on Muslims in different parts of the country, Azad impressed upon both the Prime Minister and home minister that words were not enough to stop attacks of co vigilantes on minorities but stern action should be taken against cow vigilantes responsible for attacks on minorities to restore the faith of minorities in the working of the government and the rule of law.
Azad also sought immediate measures for protection of minorities in trade and business as they are victimized by some black sheep who misuse power to instigate communal divides even in the implementation of new business laws in the country.
Reacting sharply to the military intervention of China in the Sikkim sector, Azad said “The opposition led by Congress party will forcefully raise the issue of China border dispute in the parliament beginning its monsoon session from tomorrow and seek proper clarifications from the government on this count.”
The all party meeting convened by the government one day before the beginning of the monsoon session of the parliament was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended among other by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior ministers of the Modi government.
“If the government thinks that elimination and guns are the only ways to curb tension in Kashmir, we are not with them,” he told reporters after the all-party meeting.
“The government has closed all doors for dialogue on Kashmir which has led to political suffocation in the Valley,” Azad said.
Observing that differences with China over Kashmir was a new focal point, Azad said his party would seek a debate in Parliament on the issue, while asserting that the party stood with the government on matters of territorial integrity and national security.
“Pakistan would figure in discussions on Kashmir, but now China is mentioned without fail,” he said.
Azad said the Congress conveyed to the government that there were some sensitive issues related to the internal and external security that needed to be discussed during the Parliament session.
He also said opposition parties would seek a discussion on the India-China standoff in the Dokalam area near the Bhutan trijunction.
The Congress leader said the opposition was likely to raise the issue of farmer suicides in Madhya Pradesh, GST’s impact on the textile industry and the floods in Assam.
He said the Congress “is not in favour of stalling the proceedings of Parliament, but we are forced to do so when the government does not agree to our genuine demands.”