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Release innocent Kashmiris arrested post-Pahalgam, National Conference MP appeals to govt during Op Sindoor debate

Release innocent Kashmiris arrested post-Pahalgam, National Conference MP appeals to govt during Op Sindoor debate

Indian Express5 days ago
J&K National Conference MPs Mian Altaf Ahmad and Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Monday spoke of the plight of Kashmiris following the Pahalgam terror attack, with Ahmad urging the government to release 'any innocent people' arrested since then. The remarks came during the special discussion in the Lok Sabha on the terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
Ahmad, the Anantnag-Rajouri MP, said he is from the area where the attack occurred on April 22. 'Home Minister (Amit Shah) is here and I am sure that all the murderers will be punished. Our demand to you is to give stringent punishment to them,' he said.
Ahmad said several people from Rajouri and Poonch, which are part of his constituency, were killed in Pakistani shelling across the border following Operation Sindoor.
Citing the death of 20-year-old Mohammad Parvez in police firing near Jammu a few days ago, the MP said, 'I want the Home Minister to take notice of such innocent killings and take action against those who kill a 20-year-old youth. If action is not taken, the law will lose the trust of people. I am saying this because such incidents happen in Kashmir and action is not taken.'
'I want to request the Home Minister that if any innocent people have been arrested and are in jail after Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam attack, their cases should be reviewed and they should be released,' said the MP.
He demanded that the government provide bulletproof ambulances and build bunkers in border areas. He also sought a railway link between Rajouri and Poonch. 'Arrangement should be made that if such incidents (Pahalgam attack) happen in the future, local innocent and unarmed people are not affected,' he said.
Mehdi, the Srinagar MP, said after Pahalgam, 'a war had started against the people of Kashmir too'. He said more than 2,000 people were jailed and Kashmiris were 'defamed on social media to such an extent' that more than 11 cases of violence against them occurred in UP, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. More than 100 Kashmiris, including students and businessmen, were beaten and removed from hostels, he added.
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When politics reeks of bitterness, misconduct
When politics reeks of bitterness, misconduct

Hindustan Times

time3 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

When politics reeks of bitterness, misconduct

Eleven days from now, India will be celebrating its 78th Independence Day. Eight decades is a long enough time to take stock of our democracy and polity. Are we moving in the right direction? Are today's politicians working towards strengthening our democracy as envisioned by the founding fathers of the Republic? What better way to celebrate the approaching Independence Day than to seek answers to these probing queries? We, as citizens, have some basic expectations from our Parliament. It should not be reduced to an arena of vote politics. (Hindustan Times) Let's address the first question. Have a look at the debate over Operation Sindoor. Indians were hoping for the ruling party to put all the facts in the public domain while the Opposition would articulate its criticism and chip in with constructive suggestions. However, what unfolded was completely different. The Opposition got a fair chance to put their views forward in both houses. 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Ahead of Cong protest, ex-minister seeks copy of ‘2023 letter'; no record, says Karnataka CEO
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Indian Express

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No Consensus, Just Conflict: Operation Sindoor Debate Sinks Into Bitter Blame Game Between Govt And Opposition
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time3 minutes ago

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New Delhi: The brief political unity witnessed in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military conflict with Pakistan seems to have unravelled following the surprise ceasefire announcement on May 10. This week's marathon three-day debate in Parliament on Operation Sindoor laid bare the widening gulf between the government and the Opposition. It reinforces the notion that in today's India, consensus is the exception, not the norm. The debate gave an opportunity to the leaders of both the government and the Opposition to show unity against terrorism coming from Pakistan. While many speakers across party lines called for a common stance, their speeches exposed deep divisions. The Opposition left no stone unturned to corner the lawmakers and pressed for answers on critical issues such as security and intelligence lapses preceding the Pahalgam attack, accountability for those failures, losses suffered by the Indian Air Force, and the true nature of US involvement. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose not to respond in the Rajya Sabha, delegating the reply to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which triggered an Opposition walkout. From the government's perspective, the needle moved favourably, for instance, Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the elimination of the Pahalgam terrorists, and Prime Minister Modi asserted that "no global leader" had urged India to halt its military operation. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar put a full stop to speculations regarding New Delhi's differences with Washington, including issues of deportations, visas, and student concerns, aimed at closing talks around Trump's role in India-Pakistan ceasefire. However, the Opposition remained unsatisfied. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi challenged the Prime Minister to publicly refute US President Donald Trump's claims of brokering the ceasefire, labeling the challenge 'political rhetoric.' While the PM skipped any mention of Trump and his repeated assertions of having brokered the ceasefire, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh sidestepped questions regarding the fighter jets lost on the first day of conflict, instead urging a results-focused perspective, saying, 'In any exam, the result matters. We should see whether a student is getting good marks and not focus on whether his pencil was broken or his pen was lost.' Congress's Nationalist Strategy In an uncharacteristic move, the Congress party adopted a nationalist stance to continue putting pressure on the government. This approach aimed to score political points by portraying the government as weak on defense. However, the tables turned with former Home Minister P. Chidambaram's suggestion that the Pahalgam attackers might have been "homegrown terrorists", rather than Pakistan-backed. This offered the government an opportunity to criticise the grand old party's inconsistent position. Rahul Gandhi's speech was notably combative, alongside his sister, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra recalled the resignations of Vilasrao Deshmukh as Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shivraj Patil as Union Home Minister after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to emphasise government accountability. Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of prioritising his image over the armed forces' freedom to operate, warning that 'the forces should be used with freedom and for the national interest' and urged a decisive military effort to 'defeat terrorism once and for all.' 'It is dangerous at this time for the Prime Minister to use the forces to protect his image. It is dangerous for the country. The forces should only be used in the national interest, and the forces should be used with freedom. If you want them to be used … then go all the way, fight properly and defeat them once and for all," he said. Historical Echoes In Debate The discussion frequently revisited historical parallels. The Congress party members highlighted Indira Gandhi's role in the creation of Bangladesh despite US pressure, contrasting it with the current ceasefire announcement influenced by the US. Meanwhile, the government drew attention to the Congress's perceived failings during critical moments, such as Partition, the wars of 1947–48 and 1965, the Indus Waters Treaty, and the 1962 war with China, to question the Opposition's credibility on national security. While the Congress remains burdened by its political legacy, this debate underscored the broader polarisation within Indian politics. Despite shared concerns over terrorism, the parties remain entrenched in mutual recriminations. With other INDIA bloc parties siding with the Congress in criticism of the government, the opposition front remains fragmented under intense BJP scrutiny.

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