Daily Times

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the Narendra Modi government over the unrest in occupied Kashmir, saying the recent events there pose a “grave danger” to the country.

She said that former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s government had done tremendous amount of good work in the occupied valley but that was no longer the case.

“Recent events in the valley are tragic and pose a grave danger to the country. There can be no compromise on national security. Militants must be dealt with firmly. We must ask ourselves, what has driven scores of young people to such levels of violence,” she said, addressing the first meeting of Congress Parliamentary Party in the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament. “Can we say in all honesty that we have responded with sincerity to their pleas,” Gandhi asked.

Occupied Kashmir has witnessed turmoil for the past 11 days after the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani with clashes claiming over 50 lives. Gandhi said the loss of life and suffering of “our brothers and sisters, whether they are civilian or of the armed forces, is a source of deep anguish”.

“They are our people, we cannot forsake them,” she said. Lauding the Under Progressive Alliance’s (UPA) role in handling issues related to Kashmir, she said, “Dr Manmohan Singh’s government had made a serious effort in opening and sustaining a dialogue. Sadly, this is no longer the case.”

She said we must respond with restraint and sensitivity to the harsh realities of recent months. “Not doing so is fraught with dangerous long-term consequences. Our party’s position is clear and consistent; while borders cannot be redrawn, much can and must be done within the framework of our constitution,” she added.

Gandhi also accused the government of “snatching away” rights of adivasis, Dalits and other traditional forest dwellers and systematically weakening and subverting environmental laws. “Brutal atrocities against scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and minorities are continuing with impunity and shaming us all,” she said.