Despite reports suggesting Pakistan funding to the separatist factions operating in Jammu and Kashmir and their links with anti-India radical groups based in Pakistan, the Congress has pitched strongly for engaging into dialogue with them.
Most importantly the official position of the party has come a day after former Minister in the UPA Government Mani Shankar Aiyar-led leaders went into huddle with Hurriyat leaders in Srinagar amid months of unrest in the valley.
The statement came from none other than senior party leader Sushil Kumar Shinde, who was Home Minister during the Manmohan Singh Government and on the occasion when the incumbent BJP ruled Government is completing its three years stay in power.
“There should be dialogue in Kashmir which is missing at present. That is why terrorism is rising there. Burhan Wani was killed and stone pelting by youngsters has not stopped since then. During UPA we had back channel talks involving imminent persons. The Government of the day should work for a reach out as they are our people,” said Shinde in a media briefing on Friday suggesting the Government to extend hands to the pro-Pakistan groups and try bringing them this side.
The leader went on rubbishing the Narendra Modi Government for promises made that also include double speak on Kashmir. He added that youths of the valley needed confidence and claimed that under the Congress regime they were provided with skill training. “They have nothing to do. What else will they do if not pelt stones,” said the senior Congress leader.
Aiyar had on Thursday held meetings with Shabir Shah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and others but was quick to distance the act from his party. Soon, thereafter, the Congress also disassociated itself with Aiyar terming the act as his personal.
The former Minister who also held Governor’s post also raised doubts over recently circulated videos showing artillery fire from Indian side demolishing Pakistani bunkers along the line of Control (loC).
“The videos are of May 8-9 but are being shown after so much of delay. Pakistan is denouncing the claims and making counter claims. We are proud of our soldiers but the Government intends to take credit of all the Army has done. This is ruining the situation,” said the leader.
The party snubbing the celebration of the BJP on completion of three years and ran on over 17 minutes video ridiculing the Government for all the lofty promises made to the people. Titled as ‘3 saal-30 tikdam’ the film questions about ‘acchey din, atrocities against women and dalits, cross border terrorism, side affects and unachieved goals of the demonetisation, farmers’ distress and double speak of the BJP over GST, Aadhaar and MGNREGA’.
“Of course the BJP has won but the country has lost. Modi stands for ‘murder of democracy in India’. The Government is spending over Rs 2,000 crore on false advertisements claiming no stain of corruption and blah-blah. Scams like Vyapam, Chhattisgarh PDS, lalit Modi-gate, Gujarat GSPC, Anar Patel, pulse import etc are there but in the situation akin to dictatorship when no probe is ordered, how come the scams would come into light,” asked AICC spokesperson Ajoy Kumar. PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat also rapped the State Government for acting casually in the recent Jamshedpur killings.