NEW DELHI: Cautioning against contentious statements on Kashmir being issued by certain political parties and leaders, Union Minister of State PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh said here on Sunday that this only smacks of lack of seriousness and opportunistic politicking on their part.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a function here, Dr. Jitendra said, it is strange that some of the senior former Union Ministers in the UPA Government are suggesting certain Kashmir solutions which they themselves found impracticable when they were in power.
Similarly, some of the former ministers in the past State Governments in J and K are attacking the present Coalition State Government even though their own track record in controlling terrorism and killings was even worse when they were in power, he said.
Dr. Jitendra said, he was particularly upset to hear a very senior Delhi-based Congress leader of J and K origin, stating in the Parliament that situation was absolutely fine during the Congress rule in the State.
“We need not go into the history of Congress party’s role in J and K since 1947,” he said, but let us atleast recall recent past and the role of contemporary Congress leaders around. He said, the public memory is not so short as to forget what happened recently in 2010 and which were the parties in power at that time nor has anybody forgotten the unrest of Amarnath agitation in 2008 and who was at the helm of power at that time.
Calling for collective resolve to fight against terrorism, Dr. Jitendra said, by stooping low to settle political scores in the name of terrorism, there is a risk that we would deflect from our focus from the main enemy which is Pakistan. He said, Pakistan has been continuously fishing in the troubled waters of river Jhelum and now it stands totally exposed. If we do not fight this challenge collectively, none of us, regardless of our political affiliations, will be saved from terrorism, he warned.
Meanwhile, newly nominated Member of Parliament, Suresh Gopi called on Dr. Jitendra and discussed wide range of issues.