PDP terms it ‘sweeping, sickening'

Differences crop up between PDP-BJP over Ganga's bullet statement

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: Differences have again emerged between the ruling parties in Jammu and Kashmir with the PDP General Secretary Sartaj Madni terming the BJP's minister's statement “bullets are only way to deal with stones pelters in Kashmir” as “sweeping and sickening”.

In a video clip, BJP Minister Chander Prakash is seen saying, “youth throwing stones in Kashmir should be dealt with bullets”.

“They (Kashmiri stone pelters) are traitors, whether they have come from Pakistan or live here, they can only be treated by bullets.  If bullets are not there at least they should be punished, like beating them by canes,” Prakash, who is the Industries and Commerce Minister in the Mehbooba Mufti led government is seen as saying in the video. He is

Prakash's alleged statement came days after Chief Minster Mehbooba Mufti called for a dialogue to pacify the unrest prevailing in the valley.

“We will try to talk and listen to the problems of the youth who are involved in stone pelting. Our youth are very talented but they are trapped in this situation,” Mehbooba had told the media earlier this month. The Cabinet on Tuesday also asked the security forces to exercise maximum restraint while handling law and order situation.

Reacting to this, the PDP General Secretary Sartaj Madni Thursday termed “Ganga's statement as sweeping and sickening”.

Madni, who is the uncle of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in a hard hitting statement said, “Such disgusting utterances are not only unjustifiable but perilous as well”.

“It is unbecoming of a senior minister in the Government to dish out such a sweeping, sickening and intimidating statement against the Kashmiri youth,” Madni said in a statement.

He said the statement of Ganga was also in contravention to the stand of the State Cabinet on the issue that expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives in the valley and directed the security agencies to exercise maximum restraint while handling law and order situations to prevent loss of lives.

He said, “Instead of reaching out to the distressed and alienated Kashmiri youth and address their concerns, the hawkish rhetoric of such fringe elements has the danger of further adding to the alienation of the people and impeding the government's efforts of restoring peace and calm in the Valley.”

“Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had entered into an alliance with the BJP only with the objective of bridging the gulf between the people of different regions the State and taking Jammu and Kashmir to new heights of inclusive development and prosperity,” he said and added that “unfortunately the unwarranted statements of such fringe elements are negating the basic philosophy of this alliance”.

“Instead of bringing the people together, such insidious statements are unfortunately only going to add to the void,” he said and added that a responsible government functionary can't be seen pitching himself against own people. “We hope that good sense will prevail and the BJP leadership will take serious note of such uncalled-for statement from a senior Minister of the party,” he said.

He said instead of provoking the situation in Kashmir, all the right-thinking people should try to find a way out of the present impasse by engaging with all sections of the society in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP spokesperson Arun Gupta refused to comment, saying “Prakash should clarify his statement then we will react on it”.

The main opposition, National Conference said such a statement shows “political bankruptcy” of the minister.

“Such statements will further deteriorate the situation in Kashmir,” National Conference, General Secretary, Ali Mohammad Sagar, said.

He accused the ruling parties for “deteriorating” the situation in the valley. “They are doing politics on the dead bodies of Kashmir,” he said. He said the Chief Minister has “no control” on her cabinet colleagues.