Situation in Kashmir valley slipping out of control, says BJP

BJP today said that the situation in Kashmir valley is "slipping out of control" and warned against any "knee jerk reaction" by giving a political package.

"Any concession made at this stage will further dilute the sovereignty" and will lead to separatists' dream that their aims are going to be realised some day, leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha.

Seeking clarifications on home minister P Chidambaram's  statement on unrest in Kashmir, Jaitley said announcing any
political package for the state "at such a sensitive time, would indicate weakness of the country."

Several members, including Saif-ud-Din Soz (Congress), demanded that a delegation of MPs should visit the valley to
build confidence among the people.

However, National Conference member GN Ratanpuri said mere visit of MPs would not have any credibility. 

"There is no credibility. You have to offer something more than talks. What will be offered by the Parliamentary delegation? Only talks will not work," the NC member said. 

Jaitley said political parties in the valley may have their political compulsions (in seeking autonomy and repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act) but "while dealing with the situation, the government of India should not have a kneejerk and panic reaction."

He alleged that the situation (in the valley) is "slipping out of the control" and attacked the Omar Abdullah government saying it "has increasingly got alienated from people within the valley. The chief minister is getting alienated from his own party and allies."

The BJP leader noted a "significant change in the strategy" by Pakistan's ISI and various agencies across the border separatists forces, who act on their behest.

With the potential of India's capability in tackling terrorism rising, the entire strategy now seems to instigate people into mob violence and then use its emotive content to spread the violence further.

He also rued that the ability of mainstream parties in the valley to reach out to people has somehow got diluted. 

Jaitley said the Working Group on Centre-State Relations  constituted by prime minister Manmohan Singh functioned in a
"farcical" manner.

He said the "quiet diplomacy" begun by home minister P  Chidamabarm has not yielded results. 

Jaitley wondered whether the special status to the state had led to any integration the people of the state with the country or given rise to separatism. 

He also asked whether Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani's recent appeal to people not to do stone-pelting is a change of heart or part of a concerted strategy.

On the changed strategy by Pakistan backed separatists, Jaitley said young children, women and elderly people are being trained to engage in stone pelting.

"School children's bags besides textbooks are also being filled with stones," he said.

Jaitley said there is huge anger among the people of the other two regions of the state - Jammu and Ladakh - as they feel they are being discriminated against, with major national resources going to the valley.

Saifuddin Soz (Congress) suggested that an all-party delegation visit Kashmir to talk to cross sections of people, a demand which was supported by the Left.

Disagreeing with BJP, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said the solution to the problem did not lie with abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution which gives a special status to the state but "in its implementation."

Supporting the demand for an all-party delegation to the valley, he said there is a need to address the alienation of people in the state.

He said while the government wants to start political dialogue after restoring peace, the two must go together. 

D Raja (CPI) demanded that at least Srinagar should be kept out of the purview of the AFSPA, stating such an experiment was done in Imphal. 

He also favoured full autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir saying, "the question of full autonomy need to be addressed and regional autonomy to all the three regions can also be considered."

He compared the stone pelting on security forces by women
in Kashmir to Palestinian women pelting stones on the tanks of
Israel.

T Siva (DMK) made demanded resumption of quiet dialogue
saying only this can solve the problem there.

He also sought to know whether there is any difference between the unified command functioning in Jammu and Kashmir and the ones in naxal hit areas.

Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP) said people's faith has been shaken
and the problem cannot be solved by deploying forces. He said
people have a vested interest in continuation of terrorism.

Rashid Alvi (Congress) said the Kashmir never passed through such a situation since independence and sought to know  what political initiative the government was taking to restore normalcy.

Md Adeeb (Independent) said there should be special provisions to employ Kashmiri youths in the country and human rights activists should be allowed to visit the valley. 

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (Akali Dal) suspected that there could be a link between resurfacing threat of militancy in Punjab and terrorism in Kashmir. He also expressed concern over attacks on Sikhs in the state.