The Indian Express
SRINAGAR
CPI (m) leader Sitaram Yechury on Monday slammed Government of India, questioning the use of pellet guns against civilians in the Kashmir Valley.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, he said, “Even Israel does not use pellet guns against Palestinians.”
The brief discussion took place after Congress party gave a notice in the House demanding a discussion on the issue. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad first spoke and said that government should not deal with it as a “mere law and order situation”.
Yechury also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that his silence showed that the government did not care.
BJP’s Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi welcomed the concern of leaders and said that they were ready to discuss on the issue.
“We are committed to restore peace in Kashmir,” he said.
The discussion may take place on Monday afternoon or on Tuesday as Home Minister was not present at the moment.
The notice was given just a day after Ghulam Nabi Azad justified his open letter on PM Modi asking him to break his silence over the issue.
As the upper house of the Indian parliament discussed current Kashmir, neither PM nor Home Minister was present.
Curfew and restrictions continued in several parts of Kashmir on Monday for 31st consecutive day after killing of popular Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
At least 58 civilians have been killed and more than 3,000 injured by forces in the valley since July 09, 2016.
(The report was slightly edited.)