The Congress and JD(U) sought to pick holes in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio address, asking why the Government has not been able to lift curfew in Kashmir yet if only 5 per cent of the people are involved in creating trouble. On the other hand former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lauded the PM for taking up the Kashmir situation in his radio address (Mann Ki Baat), saying it was “good to see” him continuing from where he left after meeting the opposition parties from the State.
“If PM believes that only 5 per cent of people are creating trouble then why central and State Governments are not able to contain itIJ Why curfew for 51 daysIJ” Congress leader Manish Tewari asked on Twitter. He also asked Modi to hear “Mann ki Baat of Kashmiri people rather than one way monologue.”
Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, Tewari said thedifficulty is “when you do not diagnose a problem properly or able to find a prescription”. “If the PM and Chief Minister of Kashmir believe that only 5 per cent of the people are creating a problem, then it raises a question as to why the State Government and the Central Government have been able to surmount the issueIJ” he asked.
Tewari said the PM and Home Minister Rajnath Singh do not understand the meaning of ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriayt and Kashmiriyat’. “So, therefore, the PM must realise the gravity of the problem that there are forces in Jammu and Kashmir who may be outside the electoral mainstream but they require an outreach if you need to bring the situation under control. PM and his Home Minister talk about ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat’, (nut) do not know what these words mean,” he said.
Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the people of the country want lasting peace in Kashmir but the statement of Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti does not prove so.
Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi said, “Every political party supports PM, if any initiative is taken. He tried to normalise the relationship with Pakistan. Tell me the name of one political party that opposed him. He has not done anything...To ensure peace in Kashmir.”
Reacting to Modi’s observation on youth being pushed towards stone-pelting, Omar said it was due to “our collective mistakes”. “Good to see @narendramodi ji continuing where he left off after meeting opposition parities in Delhi last Monday,” the NC leader said on Twitter after the Prime Minister’s radio address.
“Unfortunately sir a lot of these youngsters have been pushed there by our collective mistakes and mishandling of J&K situation,” Omar who in past criticised Modi for not making mention of the Kashmir situation in his earlier ‘Mann Ki Baat’ addresses, said.