The Congress on Friday demanded immediate steps to end the migration of Kashmiri Pandits and outsiders from Kashmir and asked the Government to engage with the stakeholders to restore normalcy in the troubled Valley.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Centre for "neglecting the security issues" in Kashmir and alleged that “those supposed to protect Kashmiri Pandits are busy promoting films".
"Bank managers, teachers and many innocent people are being killed every day, Kashmiri Pandits are migrating. Those who have to protect them do not have time. They are busy promoting films. The BJP has reduced Kashmir to its ladder of power,” Rahul tweeted and urged the Prime Minister “to take immediate steps to restore peace” in the Valley.
Senior party leader who was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on Friday Vivek Tankha said the Government should spell out its policy for restoring normalcy in the Union Territory that has been, rattled by a series of targeted terrorist killings.
Underlining the need for greater sensitivity towards the people of Kashmir, he said, normalcy and peace cannot be brought there through propaganda. “A lot of statesmanship is required to address the Kashmir issue, which is currently lacking,” he said.
"People are being killed in offices and even Government offices are not secure. Please move them (Pandits and outsiders) immediately to secure places and put security around them," Tankha said at an AICC press conference.
Calling for immediate steps to halt the spate of killings, Tankha said the affected people should be taken into confidence so they feel safe.
"The Government should secure all affected people and their offices...And this has to be done in the next 24 hours, as we do not want to hear that more innocents have died," he said.
Noting that the unity of the country is most important, Tankha said enough security and protection should be provided to vulnerable people so they don't have to move out of Kashmir.
"Don't let migration happen from Kashmir as it is not good for Kashmir and is neither in the country's interest. Through this appeal I expect the Central Government to come out clearly and spell out the roadmap for restoring peace and normalcy in Kashmir," he said.