Cong: BJP-PDP govt has mishandled Kashmir situation

Says, BJP and PDP leaders should have stayed in the Valley and monitored the situation

Expressing grave concern over the "deteriorating situation" in Kashmir Valley, Congress on Friday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led coalition government of mishandling the violent protests following the death of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani last week and allowing unrest to continue unabated.

"We express grave concern over deteriorating situation in Kashmir Valley. PDP-BJP coalition government has mishandled the situation and are allowing violence to continue unabated," Congress leader and state media coordinator Kapil Singh said.

He said that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her ministerial colleagues from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could not apprehend the trouble that led to the current situation.

Singh claimed that the PDP after having entered into an alliance with the BJP pleaded before Hurriyat leaders to help maintain peace, which the Hurriyat outrightly rejected.

"Prior to this, late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had appreciated Pakistan for allowing a peaceful conduct of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Singh said such statements "vitiate atmosphere and undermine the governments in the state and at the Centre."

He said both BJP and PDP leaders should have stayed in the Valley and monitored the situation, but instead they were camping in Jammu and are unable to resume the Amarnath Yatra.

He said the state government has failed on administrative, political and social fronts.

Appealing to protesters, specially the youth, to maintain calm, Singh said peace must be maintained at all cost and the Yatra should be resumed at the earliest.

He said the breakdown of internet services too has caused hardships to people — majority of whom have to travel to Pathankot to do their work and file e-tenders.

Singh held the state government responsible for not being able to contain the violence, saying it clearly indicates a big failure in its functioning and shows incapability on the part of people sitting at the helm of administrative affairs.

Violent protests have rocked Kashmir following the death of Burhan Wani and two of his associates in an encounter with security forces on July 8 in Anantnag district.

In the ensuing clashes with security forces, 36 people including a policeman have been killed, while 3,140 others, including 1,500 security personnel have been injured.