Under fire from a united Opposition, the government agreed to discuss the unrest in Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha first thing Wednesday. Home Minister Rajnath Singh accepted Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad’s proposal Tuesday to suspend zero hour the following day and start the discussion at 11 am. It will the second discussion on the Kashir crisis this session. Although the Opposition has also demanded the Prime Minister’s presence during the discussion, the government’s decision on this remained unclear. The Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, led by the Congress, has been asking for a discussion since Monday when it urged Modi to break his silence on the deteriorating situation in Kashmir and demanded initiation of a political process to defuse the crisis that has led to an unprecedented 30 days of curfew across the Valley. On Tuesday, they reiterated the demand to send an all-party delegation to the Valley. “Why is the political process not being started? Please send an all-party delegation on August 12 and stop the use of pellet guns,” CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said. “We are not here to blame the government. We want to help. Mistakes were made even when I was chief minister. I have written to the PM urging him to learn from the mistakes made in 2008 and 2010,”Azad said. WATCH VIDEO: Ghulam Nabi Azad Questions PM Modi’s ‘Silence’ On Kashmir Issue JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said, “Other than the ruling alliance, the House and the country does not know what is happening. You have kept it in your hands in a sectarian way.” BSP chief Mayawati said Modi should also be present during the discussion and slammed him for making statements on atrocities on Dalits outside the House when Parliament was in session.
