Parliamentary panel rejects J&K view on militancy

A Parliamentary panel has rejected the Jammu and Kashmir government’s arguments against a White Paper on militancy in the state by saying “orthodox views” should not be encouraged.

The 31-member Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by Congress Rajya Sabha parliamentarian P Bhattacharya, made this observation in an action taken report on its recommendations to rehabilitate Kashmiri pundits, who had migrated from the Valley during insurgency.

The Union Home Ministry had taken note of the panel’s suggestion, but responded by saying: “As informed by the state government, it is felt that it is not advisable at this stage to issue any White Paper on the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.”
The panel, which includes members of the BJP, Trinamool Congress, BJD, AIADMK, CPM, CPI and others, was not in favour of the government’s response.

The committee expressed its strong disagreement to the views of the Jammu and Kashmir government and said that such orthodox views should not find a place in democracy, especially at a time when the movement for transparency is gaining momentum and the country witnessing a “quantum leap” in that direction.

“When the whole world has now begun to appreciate India’s views on terrorism and regard the country as one of the most suffered victim of terrorism, bringing a White Paper should not be a cause of concern,” the panel said.
 The panel had earlier felt that all facts on the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir should be brought out in the form of a White Paper, which covers all developments on the matter in a single document for public information.

In its latest report, the panel asked the Union Home Ministry to persuade the state government to look into the issue of giving Kashmiri Pandits minority status, keeping in mind their “pitiable conditions”. The ministry said the Jammu and Kashmir government had informed it that in view of the special constitutional status and present situation of the state, no action could be taken in that direction.