In Kashmir, we are surrendering to terrorists: Congress tells Modi government

By Asianet Newsable English | First Published Oct 20, 2021, 8:42 AM IST

Linking the recent spate of civilian killings to the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370, the Congress said, "Some will die. That is the cost unfortunately for the August 5, 2019 folly. Do not let 1990 repeat itself."

The Congress on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of surrendering to terrorists in Kashmir and making the same mistake that Vishwanath Pratap Singh made as Prime Minister in the 1990s by not providing security to Kashmiri Pandits.

Congress National Spokesperson Manish Tewari said that in 2021, the BJP government is committing the same mistake by facilitating the departure of migrant workers from Kashmir. Citing the instance of Punjab, Tewari said that the state was brought back from the brink because the Punjabi Hindu stood his ground and never fled in fear. "Hundreds of Hindus were pulled out of buses and trains and shot but they never baulked. They suffered but never surrendered. In Kashmir, we are surrendering to terrorists," the Congress leader said.

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He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to not allow this ethnic cleansing by another name from taking place. Tewari called upon the Centre to provide security and give confidence to migrant workers. Linking the recent spate of killings to the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370, the Congress said, "Some will die. That is the cost unfortunately for the August 5, 2019 folly. Do not let 1990 repeat itself."

The Congress leader's remarks come even as many migrants have been arriving at bus and train stations in Jammu and Kashmir with their families in a bid to save themselves from terrorists who have been randomly targeting them since the last fortnight.

There are an estimated 3 to 4 lakh migrant workers hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand who take up odd jobs in Kashmir like masonry and carpentry. Terrorists have killed at least 11 civilians this month, most of whom were migrant workers. The killings have sparked a frenzy, prompting many of them to return home sooner than usual. Till last year, migrants used to wait for the onset of winter in the Valley in November to return to their native areas.

Meanwhile, mobile internet services have been suspended in parts of the Kashmir Valley in the aftermath of recent civilian killings. In the Srinagar district, the areas where the mobile services have been suspended include Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Anchar, Eidgah, Qamarwari, Soura and Bagyass. The Internet has also been disrupted in parts of Kulgam and Pulwama. The move comes even as there is speculation that the Union Home Ministry may task the National Investigation Agency to probe the civilian killings. An NIA team is already on the ground assisting security forces in tracking down the terrorists involved in the civilian killings.

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