Delhi's argument weak to defend its case in Kashmir

Claiming that government of India had a weak argument to defend its case in Kashmir, independent legislator Engineer Rashid Wednesday said it was running away from talks and has given forces a free hand to control the state.

“If Pakistan, America and Russia can talk to Al-Qaida and Taliban, why can’t government of India talk to people like Burhan Wani (Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander)?

I challenge the BJP government to discuss every angle and aspect of Kashmir issue in the Assembly.

 since New Delhi has a very weak argument to defend its case in Kashmir, it runs away from talks and has given police and army a free hand to kill and control the state,” the irrepressible legislator from north Kashmir said in the Legislative Assembly.

Castigating the government or detaining hardline Hurriyat leader Masrat Alam, he said, “We strongly believe J&K is a political issue and we don’t want a communal solution. But it is New Delhi that is forcing us to think on communal lines, as we are facing discrimination at all levels. May government explain why Masrat Alam is being slapped with a series of PSAs and why Khan Sopori’s (separatist leader) residential house is not being freed from police control?”

“While in Jammu you (government) released 22 criminals who had damaged state property within hours in Kashmir you have been arresting relatives of militants in every part of state. Ironically, state government kept criminal silence when BJP MLA Ravinder Raina used words like ‘Er Rashid hay Pakistani or hum Pakistaniyon ko kaat kay rakh dengay (Er Rashid is a Pakistani and we will kill Pakistanis)’,” Rashid alleged.

In his furious speech he revealed, “I would never have contested elections had I not been subjected to third degree torture by police in 2006 and forced to sell my property to pay bribe to get released.”

Rashid reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir ‘was not integral part of India.“Even if I am hanged I will still say Jammu and Kashmir is neither India’s integral part nor Pakistan’s jugular vein either.

Even if you send me to jail, debar me from contesting elections, or hang me, it will not force me to change my stand,” he said in the House.