Congress accused BJP of trying to create differences between parties in J&K

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Thursday attacked the BJP, accusing it of destabilising the government in Jammu and Kashmir and trying to break National Conference (NC), PDP and Congress in the stat. Initiating the debate on a resolution to impose President rule in Jammu and Kashmir in Rajya Sabha Azad said: "You made the government with fanfare in Jammu & Kashmir but BJP withdrew from it. "Why didn't you conduct elections. You took four months and tried to break Congress, NC and whosoever (PDP) did development in Kashmir. The moment you came to know that government cannot be formed, you dissolved the assembly," he said.

Azad further said: "We are secular forces. We want to have Kashmir with India. You withdrew security in the state and made them a soft target (for militants)". He, however, supported the resolution moved by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, to approve proclamation issued by the President on December 19, 2018, under Article 356 of the Constitution of India in relation to Jammu & Kashmir.

The resolution has already been passed by the Lok Sabha on December 28, 2018. Azad also pointed out that since Jammu and Kashmir Governor has legislative and executive power, the Governor brought 55 amendments in different law in such a sensitive state. He held BJP responsible for what he said was "100 per cent alienation" in the state, alleging the government has brought this in the culture of state administration on how many Hindu or Muslim officials are appointed by them.

He said there were a maximum number of ceasefire violations during the last four years and a large number of people, as well as animals, were killed due to shelling. "We had given you a Kashmir which was known for communal harmony and development. But it not the same," he said. Azad also accused the government of not creating enough employment opportunities in the state and said this led to youth who were trained as doctors, engineers and PhD holders, to join militancy.

Relying on Azad's accusations, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said if the Congress leaders want to become statesmen then they have to get out of blame game. He also said the Congress cannot get away with its responsibility regarding the situation of alienation in the state because "stone pelting incident came to light in your golden era only.

" He also said: "You ruled the state and now you say that people are alienated". Jaitley said: "When history will decide which point of view--Shyama Prasad Mukherjee or Jawahar Lal Nehru - was right, then you will have a problem." Speaking on the debate, Derek O' Brien (TMC) attacked the BJP saying "nationalism is not the copyright of one party... you pretend to be nationalist...ultra nationalist...then heal Kashmir" and said that in actuality it may be "anti-national". He said the government should not turn Kashmir into a "hell" from being a "paradise" and said the institutions in the country were being ruined one after the other be it " CBI, RBI, Parliament or its panels". He said there was a tendency to leave out Ladakh and Leh in discussions on Jammu and Kashmir. He sought an assurance from the government that elections in the state will be held either now or with LS elections.

He also took a jibe at the government saying it was a peculiar situation where despite Defence Minister's presence in Lok Sabha, Finance Minister "replied" on Defence issues and here in Rajya Sabha despite Home Minister's presence, Finance Minister was speaking on Home Ministry issues. Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said the government should refrain from the propaganda of "surgical strike" and keep the country's interest paramount. A Navaneethakrisnan (AIADMK) demanded that the presidential proclamation should be revoked at the earliest. Anubhav Mohanty (BJD) said parties should rise above petty party politics.

T K Rangarajan (CPI-M) wanted to know whether the government was ordering an enquiry into the death of civilians in the state in the last three years by a sitting Supreme Court Judge. Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) said of late the definition of patriotism was being changed and wondered if NSA would take political decisions. D Raja (CPI) said the imposition of Article 356 was unconstitutional on part of the Centre and should have been invoked in extraordinary circumstances. Rakesh Sinha (BJP), MM Fayaz (J&K PDP) and Majid Memon (NCP), T.K.S Elangovan (DMK) and Sanjay Singh (AAP) also spoke.