Live: Demand our Kashmir under Pakistan occupation, says Ram Gopal Yadav
After two days of pursuance, Opposition managed to get permission to have a discussion on situation in Kashmir, which is under curfew for more than a month following the killings of militant Burhan Wani.
The Rajya Sabha has suspended Question Hour to discuss Kashmir. It will be a four-hour discussion.
In Lok Sabha, three important Bills will be moved today. The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016., The Transgender Persons(Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, and The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Live updates:
12:25 pm: To save the nation, one must add… Force has to be used. But I agree we should ban pellet guns. Though I know force has to be used sometimes. You have to control terrorist activities and use force inside if Kashmir has to be kept in India, says Yadav.
12:18 pm: One terrorist was killed in Kashmir and look at the incredible reaction! Such poison has been injected. You have to treat the source of poison. Demand our Kashmir under Pakistan occupation, says Yadav. You never talk about getting back our PoK. It has been given part of it to China… Aksai chin. They have made roads there, he says.
12:15 pm: ISI incites Kashmiris. Till we don’t control Pakistan, we can’t solve the problem. Pak public wants good terms with Indians, but Pakistan Army wants to destroy relations. Pak PM have to speak what army, ISI want. Common people suffer in Pak and Army enjoys. Whatever Pakistan says, it will try to create discord in India, says Yadav.
12:07 pm: Ram Gopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party speaks. Incentives alone will not help any longer in Kashmir. Too much poison injected in minds there. Partition became a thorn in the nation’s flesh. Kashmir alone looked upon by Nehru and MEA when Sardar Patel annexed every Princely State. This was a huge mistake to take it in UN, says Yadav.
12:05 pm: The issue is not unemployment but militancy. I feel sad for Kashmir. I feel sorry for those who have been injured, says Manhas.
12:00 noon: Only some people are playing in the hands of separatists. Who are the people getting stones and arming kids? Ask those separatists — kids should have books and laptops in hands, says Mr. Manhas. Two AIIMS have been given to Kashmir, an IIT too. If youth are indulging in stone pelting due to unemployment, why aren’t youth from Ladakh and Jammu doing it? he asks.
11:56 am: Manhas narrates the rule of Raja Hari Singh, the ruler of erstwhile Kashmir kingdom. Try to see the finer points. Raja Hari Singh tried to harmonise society there. He got a Dalit to pray with him despite priest’s objections. No untouchability there. It is a society with good values. Manhas’ father Capt. Janak Singh was the Army Minister of Raja Hari Singh.
11:55 am: We feel sad for Kashmiris. People have voted there. They have joined democratic mainstream. The entire society of India feels for Jammu and Kashmir. But separatists, Hizbul Mujahideen, LeT take inspiration elsewhere, says Manhas.
11:50 am: Next to talk is S.S. Manhas of BJP. Without talking of Jammu, we can’t talk of Kashmir. The State of Jammu and Kashmir comprises of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir. They are three different regions with different cultures. Jammu shares 500 km border with Pakistan. Fifty-five per cent of State’s population lives in Jammu. Their unemployed youth could also have taken up guns. Ladakh asked for Union Territory Status. They did not get and yet feel for India, says Manhas. “That is the difference between nationalism and separatism.”
11:45 am: The districts are under curfew for 32-33 days. Thousands are injured. We are sorry for civilians. And we are also very sorry for security forces. They are also someone’s children. Both are suffering. It is our duty as political parties to share their grief and appeal for calm on behalf of Parliament. This appeal should go from Parliament. There should be an all party delegation. We should announce the dates today or tomorrow, says Azad ending his speech.
11:34 am: Law and order of Kashmir is not same as Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan. Law and order is taken of there by police and paramilitary. Kashmiri leaders alone can’t do it. We don’t have resources. You say Kashmir is integral part of India. It should not be on paper but it should come from the heart. Had it come from heart, the Prime Miniter would have spoken about it in Parliament, not in Madhya Pradesh after 32 days of curfew, says Azad.
11:30 am: A militant is a militant. He has no religion. Over 95 per cent civilians killed in Kashmir militancy are Muslims. Kashmir is a secular place, says Azad.
11:26 am: Sharad Yadav suggests all should speak when our turns come. Azad continues. Let us not discuss past. What Prime Minister said — Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat, Jamuriyat. He echoed Mr. Vajpayee’s words. Such words are nice only when Mr. Vajpayee speaks because he meant what he spoke. The character of a person also matters, says Mr. Azad.
11:25 am: Leader of the House Arun Jaitley responds. Kashmir is in a sensitive State today. It is better if parliament speaks in one house on it. This is not the apt time to discuss our disagreements on Kashmir, he says.
11:21 am: The Prime Minister tweets about Africa, Pakistan but what about Kashmir, asks Azad. Please love people of Kashmir, love those children who lost their eyes. You keep speaking and fueling discontent in Kashmir, says Mr. Azad, tragetting the ruling party. (Interruptions)
11:15 am: Every day from 10 to 6, the Prime Minister stays in his chamber here in Parliament. But he didn’t answer in Parliament when we discussed Dalits or Kashmir. But he is addressing Dalits from Telangana, and he talks about Kashmir from Madhya Pradesh. The Prime Minister is near, yet far from the Parliament, says Azad. BJP MPs object to Mr. Azad’s remarks.
11:12 am: Ghulam Nabi Azad starts the debate on Kashmir. He thanks the Chairman for suspending Question Hour and take up the issue. For the first time, the same issue is being debated in Upper House for the fourth time.
11:11 am: This is for the first time since 2003, that the PMO has answered a starred question. A Starred Question is one to which a member desires an oral answer in the House and which is distinguished by an asterisk mark. When a question is answered orally, supplementary questions can be asked thereon.
11:10 am: Meanwhile in Lok Sabha, MoS Jitender Singh says that Indian civil service has ranked 76th internationally which is a remarkable improvement. Shashi Tharoor responds saying that he’s surprised to hear it because the rank should never be a benchmark. He says Indian bureaucracy must follow the best practices seen worldwide and improve the delivery. He suggests a committee should be formed which can work toward its reform.
Jitendera Singh says that a decade ago a committee was formed, which had submitted a report but the previous government sat on it. He says the current government is looking at the report.
11:07 am: Before the discussion starts, an MP raises the issue of Dalits beaten up in Andhra Pradesh.
11:05 am: Rajya Sabha discusses Kashmir situation.
11:00 am: Both Houses of Parliament begin proceedings
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