Author: PNS
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: October 29, 2010
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/293003/Cong-tells-K-panel-to-tone-down-activism.html
The Kashmir interlocutors on Thursday came
under attack both from the Opposition BJP as well as the ruling Congress.
The Congress advised them to "talk less" to avoid inviting criticism
and the BJP sought to know from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh if any terms
of reference were set for them or they were enlarging their own mandate on
a daily basis.
Feeling "rattled" with the constant
embarrassment being caused by the statements issued by two of the three interlocutors,
Dileep Padgaonkar and Radha Kumar, senior Congress leaders, on condition of
anonymity, said the interlocutors should avoid interacting directly with the
media. "If at all they wished to talk to the media, they should talk
less. The interlocutors should maintain that 'talks are in progress',"
they maintained. The message would be sent across to them, they pointed out.
The Congress leaders also suggested that the
best way for the interlocutors to ward off controversies would be to appoint
a spokesperson. "The interlocutors need a spokesperson to save themselves
from courting controversies," they said.
Advocating appointment of a spokesperson for
the interlocutors, sources said they might not have been able to articulate
properly. "Their intent would have been that the Indian Constitution
has scope for accommodation for certain amount of aspirations as was the case
of the Bodos," they said.
On its part, the principal opposition BJP
sought to know from the Government if what the interlocutors were voicing
was part of New Delhi's brief or if they were enlarging their own mandate
almost on a daily basis.
"Home Minister P Chidambaram has been
for the past one year a votary of quiet dialogue. Perhaps, he needs quieter
interlocutors," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters.
The BJP was first upset with Padgaonkar's
suggestion for discussing the Kashmir issue with Pakistan and now with another
interlocutor, Radha Kumar, for suggesting that Constitution of India could
be amended so as to incorporate the aspirations of the Kashmiri people which
include 'azadi'.
"The Constitution is an important instrument
both for Indian democracy as also for national integration. It can never be
allowed to become a charter for incorporating the sentiments of azadi,"
Sitharaman added.
Accusing it of repeatedly coming out with
ad hoc measures, which had no impact on normalising the situation in the State,
the BJP sought to know from the Government if it had any long term plan to
deal with the Kashmir situation.
The party also demanded that the Government
should not stop police from investigating the case against Syed Ali Shah Geelani,
Arundhati Roy and others at a meeting in New Delhi recently. Asserting there
is no absolute right to freedom of speech or expression that attacks the sovereignty
and integrity of India, the BJP said action must be taken against them under
suitable provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
