Nirmala Sitharaman corners Congress on killing of Kashmiri Pandits in J&Ok

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday rebutted the Opposition’s cost that the BJP too shared the accountability for the failure to test the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 because it was supporting the then V P Singh-led authorities on the Centre.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha, the minister mentioned that terror killings have been being carried out in Kashmir earlier than 1990 when the National Conference was in energy in J-Ok in alliance with the Congress and recalled the then governor Jagmohan’s warning about darkish clouds of terror overpowering the Valley.

She listed out “seven major events” or killings of Hindus by terrorists in 1989 together with the associated FIR numbers.

The minister was replying to a dialogue on the Budget 2022-23 for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J-Ok) in Rajya Sabha.

The House later returned related payments finishing the method of passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Budget which Lok Sabha had accredited on March 14.

During the dialogue, the Congress social gathering had accused the BJP of supporting the V P Singh-led authorities on the Centre in 1990 when Kashmiri Pandits have been pressured to go away the Valley after they have been focused by terrorists.

“I just want to put the facts on record. The National Conference government with the support of the Indian National Congress was in power in J&K from November 1986 to January 18, 1990. And Governor Jagmohan reached J&K (on January 20, 1990) after the resignation of the then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. 20th January 1990 is when the Governor reaches Srinagar,” the minister mentioned.

“Whatever happened in 1990, we all know we listed out and we are all seeing it also. But what happened in 1989 when this (Farooq Abdullah) government was still in place, November 1986 onwards till 18 January 1990. I will take just the example of 1989 when that government of National Conference and Indian National Congress was still there,” Sitharaman mentioned.

She listed out “seven major events” or killings of Hindus by terrorists in 1989 together with the associated FIR numbers.

The Finance Minister additionally advised the opposition that Governor Jagmohan (in his first tenure) in July 1989 had warned the then state authorities relating to the hazard of terrorism.

“Is it not true that even Jagmohan Ji, in his first phase of being Governor when he was asked to leave in July 1989, didn’t he warn authorities at that time itself that the dark cloud of terrorists are really overpowering J&K, and necessary steps have to be taken by the state government,” the minister mentioned.

While she was referring to the killings of 1989, sure opposition members requested her to focus her reply on the Budget.

To this Sitharaman mentioned even the speeches of opposition members too have been centered on ‘Kashmir File’ (film) and never on the Budget, subsequently, she has each proper to answer on all points.

The minister additionally advised the House that after the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, terror actions have considerably declined, and growth works are occurring within the Union Territory.

After the removing of Article 370, the Union Territories of Ladhak, and Jammu and Kashmir, have been carved out from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.