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The torture and killing of Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Narendra Kumar by Pakistani troops at the international border near Jammu raised a chorus of political voices questioning the Centre’s policy vis-à-vis Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Pakistan. Opposition parties also questioned a reported meeting between Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart in New York.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited Narendra Kumar’s home at the Delhi-Haryana border. Speaking to reporters, Kejriwal said, “This is outrageous. Those who spoke big before elections, what do they have to say now? What is our government doing?”
The Congress fielded senior spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi to accuse the Centre of adopting a “pendulum for a policy on Pakistan”.
“Why is the Prime Minister silent when our soldiers are being kidnapped and tortured, when policemen are resigning out of fear in J&K? When will this atmosphere of fear and terror end? We are yet to see any evidence of the 56-inch chest and ‘eye-for-an-eye’. This is a matter of national security and all we are getting is sermons and jumlas. In the last 24 hours, three policemen have been abducted, ten have resigned, and the Ministry of Home Affairs says they are not resigning in fear. Are they resigning with joy and pleasure?” said Singhvi.
Singhvi said 414 security personnel and 256 civilians had been killed in J&K since 2014. Ceasefire violations and terrorist attacks had increased five times. For the first time in 70 years, Russia was conducting joint military exercises with Pakistan and India’s foreign policy especially vis-à-vis Pakistan is in a shambles.
“Our security personnel are being tortured and the Foreign Minister is talking about meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister in New York. On September 19, US had said Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba are flourishing in Pakistan and exporting terror. What is the government’s policy on Pakistan? It has become a joke. There seems to be no policy, it swings like a pendulum,” said the Congress spokesperson.
“For the first time in 70, we witnessed joint military exercises between Russia and Pakistan. M135 helicopters are being sold by Russia to Pakistan. For the first time, we are seeing a defence cooperation agreement between both. The BJP made a lot of noise and abused us, but what have they done for the Kashmiri Pandits or for the people of Ladakh who were promised an autonomous council?” he asked.
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