Jammu and Kashmir issue to be taken up in Rajya Sabha today on Opposition’s demand

New Delhi, August 10: Jammu and Kashmir to be discussed in Rajya Sabha  today assured Union Minister Rajnath Singh.

The assurance came after opposition members put up stiff resistance during zero hour yesterday in the Upper House demanding a discussion on the Kashmir issue. Singh finally said the government was ready to find the solution with the support of other political parties.

Raising the issue, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed serious concern over violent incidents in the valley resulting in the death of civilians and security personnel.

He reiterated his party’s demand for holding an all-party meeting followed by an all-party delegation to Srinagar to take stock of the situation. He was supported by leaders of several other opposition parties.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to the people of Kashmir and indicated his willingness to hold dialogue under the framework of the ‘Insaniyat (humanity), Jamhuriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat’.

He said that when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, he had adopted the path of ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat’ and the present government walks the same road.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a public meeting at Bhabra in Madhya Pradesh, the birthplace of freedom fighter Chander Shekhar Azad.

Prime Minister Modi appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony in Kashmir.

The Prime Minister said Mehbooba Mufti Government and the Centre are working together to solve the state’s difficulties but some people, who are unable to digest it, are clinging onto the path to destruction.

He said his government wants to take Kashmir to new heights of development, empower its panchayats and give job opportunities to its youth.