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‘This government is just spreading propaganda’
Tankha said, ‘I had said earlier also and am saying even today that the issue of Kashmir is bigger than Article 370 or any law. If you have to resolve the Kashmir issue and if you want peace, you have to talk to the parties concerned. Peace cannot be brought there without talking to the parties concerned. There does not seem to be any such effort on the part of the government. He alleged that this government is only spreading false propaganda.
‘What concrete steps did you take regarding Kashmir?’
The Congress leader said, “Jammu and Kashmir has been under governor’s rule for six-seven years. There is a BJP government at the Center for eight years. Now you can’t blame what happened in 60 years? The country wants to ask you what concrete steps have you taken for Kashmir, where is your white paper on Kashmir? He said, ‘The Prime Minister tweets on every little thing. I wish the Prime Minister also tweeted about Kashmir.
Vivek Tankha said, ‘We appeal to the central government to take necessary steps to restore normalcy and tell the country about it. Take other parties into confidence. Show condolences to the families of the victims.’ He said that the victims’ families should be given compensation and instead of spreading false propaganda, concrete steps should be taken. “Necessary steps should be taken within 24 hours to stop the killings,” Tankha insisted.
Asked whether separatists were also among the parties concerned with which he was talking about talks, Tankha said, “It is not a matter of discussion here.” This government will decide whom to talk to. It is worth mentioning that on Thursday in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists shot dead a bank employee in the bank premises.
There have been eight cases of targeted killings in the Kashmir Valley since May 1. A teacher hailing from Samba district of Jammu region was killed by terrorists in Kashmir’s Kulgam on Tuesday. At the same time, on May 18, terrorists entered a liquor shop in Baramulla in North Kashmir and hurled a grenade, killing a Jammu resident and injuring three others.