What was the need to kill Wani, PDP asks govt in Lok Sabha
New Delhi: The political divide over the violence in Jammu & Kashmir surfaced sharply in Lok Sabha on Wednesday with Congress and other opposition parties like Trinamool accusing the government of mishandling the situation, sparked by the encounter death of Hizbul Mujahidden terrorist Burhan Wani, while the ruling party defended itself against the charge of using excessive force to quell protests.
The government argued the situation was being worsened by provocative actions by Pakistan that declared a ‘Black Day’ but did nothing to stop fostering terrorism. Minister of state for external affairs M J Akbar said J&K was an ideological battle rather than a matter of geography.
Interestingly, BJP’s partner in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP, raised questions on the need for Wani’s killing and its timing. PDP MP Muzzafar Beg said if Wani was on the radar of intelligence agencies why was he not arrested earlier? He urged the Centre to use its moral authority, instead of military authority.
Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said the government insisted on looking at the “rear view” mirror even as the situation in J&K is “deteriorating”. Scindia said no central minister had bothered to visit the state during the current crisis.
Attacking PM Narendra Modi, Scindia noted that during the last two weeks of unrest, he had found time to wish a Cabinet colleague on his birthday, express empathy for the Paris attack but had not spoken a word on the events in Kashmir. He added that after returning from his Africa visit, Modi had called a high-level meeting but the Jammu and Kashmir CM was not present.
Akbar sought to shape the debate as one of India versus terrorism. BJP member Anurag Thakur targeted the opposition for making “baseless” allegations. He said political parties should unite dealing with such situations.
While TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee accused the government of “mishandling” the situation, BJD member Tathagat Satapathy stressed on the need for mainstreaming of Kashmiri youth. SP leader Mulayam Singh said Pakistan and China were in cahoots against India and the crisis needed a political solution. AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi said BJP must give up its “Rambo” approach and demanded the setting up of a commission for inquiry.
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