Congress leader compares Amit Shah's Kashmir statement with British Lord Linlithgow

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: Senior Congress leader, Mani Shankar Aiyer, Tuesday said the British had made similar claims before the freedom that disturbance was only in three district in India like the BJP President Amit Shah had said that Kashmir problem is centered only in three districts.

“Lord Linlithgow once claimed that disturbance was confined to only three district in India and rest are with us (Britishers) after which we got the freedom. Similarly, Amit Shah is saying that Kashmir problem is only in three district in the valley and rest is OK that is totally wrong,” Aiyer said, while addressing a conference, organised by an NGO, Centre for Peace and Progress on the theme ‘Discussion on J&K, The Road Ahead'.

He was referring to Amit Shah's recent statement that the problem in Kashmir is a problem of three and a half districts.

In the conference, representatives from mainstream parties, separatists, Pandit organizations, High Court Bar Association, civil society members, and journalists also addressed.

It was moderated by noted political analyst and track II diplomat O P Shah

Aiyer, who was the Union Minister in the Congress led government at the centre, took on the BJP government for not initiating dialogue with all stakeholders of Kashmir. “You (PDP-BJP Government) have Agenda of Alliance but the centre government is not ready for that. It seems it is Union Home Minister who is running the J&K not its Chief Minister,” he said.

He admitted that Congress and regional parties of the state had committed mistakes in the past on Kashmir issue. “Had Congress, National Conference, and the PDP not committed mistakes in the past, we would not have been facing today's situation in Kashmir. But I can't seek pardon on behalf of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi or Sheikh Abdullah.”

He said government should think how to move ahead and find a solution to the Kashmir problem. “The government of India should initiate dialogue with Pakistan, Kashmiris and find a solution to the problem.”

The Congress leader also advocated that dialogue should be held with militants and stone-pelters in the valley. “If BJP is ready to talk to Nagaland rebels why not with stone pelters?” he asked. “I want talks should be held with Naxals, Nagas, and with all elements in Kashmir. If you don't talk then guns will start talking.”

He said if the Atal Bihari Vajpayee held talks with the Hurriyat leaders before 15 years ago why BJP changed its stand now.

“Government should at least discuss the Autonomy resolution, interlocutor and Yashwant Sinha led delegation's report.”

Further, he said the Hurriyat had no control on militants in the valley. “Government has to think why youth like Musa have picked up the arms,” he said.

He said a Hurriyat leader had also invited them yesterday to his home.

“The LoC has to be made irrelevant but no exchange of territory and people. People to people contact should be stronger with equal development in both parts of Kashmir.”

He said the Pakistan political parties didn't raise the Kashmir issue in its general elections. “Except JeI, no party raised Kashmir issue in the last two general elections but advocated dialogue with India. I have been frequently visiting Pakistan and found most of its people yearning for peace.”