Congress didn't find any fault with PM Modi's Balochistan statement: AK Antony

Former defence minister AK Antony on Saturday said that the Congress Party did not find any fault with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Balochistan statement, adding that, however, it was not the solution for the Kashmir issue.

Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day address, had thanked the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for the goodwill they have shown towards him.

"The Congress Party didn't find any fault with the comment made by the Prime Minister in connection with Balochistan. But this is not the solution for Kashmir issue. First of all we should take in confidence the people in Kashmir," Antony said.

"Kashmir is in a very critical stage now. The situation in Kashmir had never been so severe. Kashmir belongs to India. Kashmir is a part of our county, so we must make the people of Kashmir stay with us with confidence. We should take care of them well and deal with them with love," he added.

The senior Congress leader further said that though Prime Minister Modi visited Kashmir during flood and many packages were offered, nothing has worked out.

"He visits there when they are in trouble, gives them offers and when is he back in Delhi, he forgets all the words. Will these kinds of measures break their beliefs? The serious matter is to clear their doubts and anxieties. For the last two years I find that nothing was done by the Prime Minister in this regard. I don't think peace can be restored in Kashmir till Pakistan stops supporting terrorism. It's a complicated issue," he said.

Kashmir valley has been witnessing unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.

As many as 65 people, including two police personnel, have been killed and several thousand injured in the clashes.

Prime Minister Modi last week in an all-party meeting on Kashmir said, "Time has come that Pakistan shall have to answer to the world for the atrocities committed by it against the people in Balochistan and PoK."

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