Contradicting stands of PM, FM on Kashmir threat to nation: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lacking a plan to tackle the J&K imbroglio, arguing that his framework of solution — ‘Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat’- was empty rhetoric.
Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said Modi did not understand the essence of his ‘Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat’ formulation beyond empty rhetoric, arguing that former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee advocated talks with Pakistan and separatists when he laid out the policy.
“Let the PM define ‘Insaniyat’. What do you mean by Jamhooriyat? Those who are in the mainstream are there. When you want a dialogue, you talk to people who are estranged. So, does it mean the PM wants to talk to those outside the mainstream? And what is your definition of Kashmiriyat?” he asked.
Pointing out that curfew in Kashmir had continued for 44 days and 14% of those with pellet injuries were under the age of 14, Tewari said while the PM spoke in favour of dialogue on Monday, the essence of finance minister Arun Jaitley’s remarks was that there was no need for talks and development was the antidote to turbulence in the Valley.
He said there was a contradiction in the stands taken by Modi and Jaitley on J&K, adding that “the irresponsible approach of the government” constituted “a threat to national security and pride of the nation”.