This Article is From Aug 10, 2016

Kashmir Crisis To Be Discussed In Rajya Sabha Today

Kashmir Crisis To Be Discussed In Rajya Sabha Today

2nd discussion on Kashmir crisis in current session of parliament

New Delhi: Under fire from a united opposition, the government has agreed to a discussion today in the Rajya Sabha on the crisis in Kashmir. This will be the second discussion on Kashmir in the current Monsoon session of parliament.  

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has agreed to the discussion as the first item on the agenda for Wednesday. It is expected to start, in an unusual move, at 11 am when the House convenes, with Zero Hour likely to be suspended.

Opposition leaders have been demanding since Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must break what they call "his silence" on Kashmir and the government is still discussing internally whether the PM will intervene in today's discussion.

The opposition, led by the Congress wants the centre to start a political process to defuse the situation in Kashmir, which has been under curfew for an unprecedented 32 days since violent protests began against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.

Almost 60 people have died and about 6000 have been injured in clashes between protesters and security forces and many people, including young children caught in cross fire, have eye injuries from pellet guns used by security forces to curb violent protests.   

In all this time, opposition leaders pointed out, schools have been closed and very few people have been attending work. They have also demanded that security forces stop using pellet guns.

"Kashmir is burning and the Prime Minister is silent," alleged Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and a former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister on Monday. He has sought that an all-party meeting also be called and a visit by a delegation of lawmakers to Kashmir be organised.

The government is said to be actively considering the Congress proposal for an all-party meet to chalk out a political outreach to the people of Kashmir and sources said it could be held on Sunday, August 14.

The government agreed to the discussion to pre-empt allowing the Congress and other parties from targeting the BJP's fragile alliance with the People's Democratic Party in J&K.  

At the last discussion on Kashmir on July 18, the opposition had attacked the centre and the state government for not being able to control the violent situation in the valley, but had also thrown their weight behind the government in condemning Pakistan's role in fomenting trouble in the region.  
 
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