New Delhi: In an all-party meeting to discuss a way to cool off unrest in Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the government needed to win the confidence of the people in the valley, while suggesting that Pakistan-administered Kashmir was a part of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
“There cannot be any compromise on national security. But we have to win the confidence of the people in Jammu and Kashmir,” Modi said at the meeting, adding that India should reach out to the non-resident citizens of the restive area.
“Pakistan [administered] Kashmir is a part of India. It is required on our part to reach out to people from [there] wherever they are,” he said.
The remarks came in response to the Samajwadi Party’s demand for a discussion on Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Congress leader Karan Singh said the area “was and is an integral part of India.”
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the government had received a letter from the United Nations Human Rights Commission wanting to visit India.
“India’s stated policy has been not to allow any country, even the United Nations, to interfere,” she said and was supported by all parties on this.
Two key decisions made at the meet included engagement with all concerned parties in Kashmir and that there would be no visit by an all-party delegation yet to the area. Opposition leaders at the meeting called for talks to be initiated with all stakeholders in the valley, including separatists.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that no power can take away the state of J&K from the country. He informed parties that the government was working on a Rs800 billion (Dh43 billion) development package for Kashmir.
National Conference, the main Opposition party in J& K, did not attend the crucial meeting. Singh said he had invited party leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah, who expressed inability due to paucity of time.
Members of Parliament expressed serious concern over the prolonged curfew, violence and loss of lives in Kashmir.
Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury said a system of trust must be built between the Kashmiris and the government.
Attending the all-party meeting, Yechuri said Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) — which grants special powers to the Indian Armed Forces in certain areas — needed to be withdrawn from all civilian areas in the region.
The meet came at the end of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. Both Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) and Lok Sabha (Lower House) have unanimously passed resolutions calling on the people of Kashmir to help restore peace in the valley.
Earlier in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh had hit out at Pakistan for perpetrating mischief in Kashmir. He also questioned the Opposition, particularly Congress, for trying to politicise the issue.
Kashmir has been witnessing unrest since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.
Police extended a curfew in parts of the Muslim-majority territory for the 35th day on Friday, a clampdown that Kashmiris said showed authorities’ failure to defuse deep-seated anger against Indian rule. At least 54 protesters have been killed since July 8.
