Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi ought to have spoken up about the ongoing violence in Kashmir. “When there’s a crisis in some other part of the world, he tweets about it,” Azad said. He alleged the Modi did not attend Parliament sessions despite being present in his office nearby nearly every day.
Azad’s words were met with strong reactions from the House, forcing Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to advise members against causing disruptions. Jaitley said, “Jammu and Kashmir is facing a sensitive situation today, there’s a need for all of us to speak in one voice.” Azad resumed his speech, and said there needs to be “an integration between the people of India and Kashmir”, and that Modi should have mentioned Kashmir in Parliament.
The Centre had agreed to a demand by the Opposition to debate the Kashmir crisis in Parliament on Wednesday. The Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (United) all called for a Rajya Sabha discussion on the Valley, which is now under curfew for the 33rd straight day. Modi had on Tuesday addressed the Kashmir issue during an event in Madhya Pradesh after a long silence. He had said the central government will provide Jammu and Kashmir with any help it needs for development.
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