Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the Modi Government on Thursday over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it had an “ill-thought out, ill-founded and ill-intentioned” design and policy to suppress the basic freedoms of the people there.
Addressing a pressconference, the former Union Home Minister also said he intended to visit Jammuand Kashmir if the government allowed him to do so.
“As I steppedout and breathed the air of freedom at 8 pm yesterday, my first thought andprayers were for the 75 lakh people of the Kashmir Valley, who have been deniedtheir basic freedoms since August 4,” he said, referring to the abrogationof Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcation of the State of Jammu and Kashmirinto two Union Territories.
“I amparticularly concerned about the political leaders who have been detainedwithout charges. Freedom is indivisible – if we must preserve our freedom, wemust fight for their freedom,” Chidambaram, who was released from TiharJail on bail in connection with the INX Media money-laundering case onWednesday, said.
Asked if parallelscould be drawn between the government’s assurances on issues related to Kashmirand the economy, the former Union Finance Minister answered in the negative,saying as far as the economy was concerned “the reason is incompetence,while in Kashmir, it is the government’s arrogance.”
“As far as theeconomy is concerned, the reason is incompetence. As far as Kashmir isconcerned, the reason is arrogance. In Kashmir, it is an ill-thought out,ill-founded, ill-intentioned design and policy to suppress the basic freedomsof people. As regards the economy, it is simply ignorance, incompetence,”the 74-year-old Congress leader said.
Most of thetop-level and second-rung separatist leaders have been taken into preventivecustody in Kashmir, while mainstream political leaders, including former ChiefMinisters Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, have either beendetained or placed under house arrest.
Pre-paid mobilephones and internet services across all platforms remain suspended since August5, when the Centre announced the decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcatethe State into two Union Territories.
Chidambaram appearedto turn emotional when asked about the recent instances of rape in the countryand said, “I am shocked. I am ashamed. Yesterday, in one newspaper, Ifound six incidents of rape and lynching. In one paper, in one day, sixincidents of rape and lynching. Shameful.”
He said it was amatter of shame that a section of people thought they could get away with suchacts with impunity.
“It is acomplete breakdown of law and order in many parts of India. What is the policedoing? Where is the fear of law?” the Congress leader asked.