Rajya Sabha again debates Kishtwar violence

New Delhi, Sep 2: Union Minister for Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah has said Jammu and Kashmir Government would take all measures to ensure that communal harmony is not again disturbed in Kishtwar which recently witnessed violent incidents.

Intervening during debate on the issue in Rajya Sabha on Monday, Dr Abdullah, who is also patron of ruling National Conference, assured the House that State government was looking into all aspects of Kishtwar episode to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

In this regard, he mentioned that the State government had already appointed one-man commission comprising retired High Court Judge, Justice RC Gandhi, to probe the matter. Justice Gandhi, former acting Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court, is expected to start his probe soon. Responding to spate of allegations leveled by BJP MP Avinash Rai Khanna about State government’s “apathy and partisan attitude” towards the matter, Dr Abdullah said the government will wait for the findings of the commission which will look into various issues raised by Khanna.

Earlier, raising the issue during Zero Hour, Khanna said the State administration has not done anything to instill confidence in the minority community residing in the town and elsewhere in the district so that they feel safe. Referring to the “huge losses” to their properties and business establishments, he demanded immediate measures so that they could restart their livelihood again. Khanna suggested that Centre should formulate a policy whereby people living in sensitive areas such Kishtwar are given insurance cover. “Under the policy, their lives, property, business establishments and other belongings should be insured. Such a move will encourage people from not migrating during times of crisis,” Khanna suggested.

Source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com