CPI(M) slams PM for Balochistan reference

CPI(M) today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for referring to "human rights violations" in Balochistan and Gilgit during his Independence Day speech, saying it would give Pakistan an opportunity to "internationalize" the Kashmir issue.
Addressing CPI(M) Telangana State plenum here, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the Kashmir issue cannot be treated as a mere law and order problem and needs political solution.
"Yesterday, in his speech, the Prime Minister spoke about human rights violations in Balochistan and Gilgit. We have been saying that Kashmir is an integral part of India. Nobody has the right to interfere in its affairs. But now we have started talking about Balochistan.

"We are giving an opportunity to Pakistan by raising the Balochistan issue. Now Pakistan may say that since India is taking about Balochistan, which is an integral part of that country, they have the right to talk about Kashmir. With this kind of foreign policy, we are giving an opportunity to others to internationalise the Kashmir issue," Yechuri said.
"We have been asking the government to find a political solution to the Kashmir issue. We told the government the same when violence erupted (recently). We asked the government to call an all-party meeting. The issue can not be treated just as a law and order problem," he said.

The CPI(M) denounced Modi for blaming Pakistan for the Kashmir problem instead of finding solutions to it.

He said all the political parties in the country have time and again assured the government of their support in curbing cross border terrorism.
Referring to the attacks on Dalits, he said "cow vigilantes" are on the rise.
Terming the Modi government as a "multi-faced" monster, he said one of them hurts people with its economic policies, another with "communal" politics, the third one by practising authoritarianism, and the fourth one with foreign policies.
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CPI(M)'s former general secretary Prakash Karat, in an editorial in the upcoming issue of party mouthpiece 'People's Democracy', said: "The Modi government has, instead of addressing alienation and demands of Kashmiri people, sought to convert the problem into an India-Pakistan confrontation".

"By raking up the problem in Balochistan, which is an integral part of Pakistan, Modi has signaled the ratcheting up of tensions with Pakistan," he said.
Karat said it was for the first time that an Indian Prime Minister has raised the issue of human rights violations in Balochistan to counter Pakistan's stance on Kashmir and "this aggressive" posture has been welcomed by "ultra nationalist" elements and "hawkish" security experts.
He warned that the stand adopted by Modi government to deal with the Kashmir issue will be "disastrous" for people of the state and India, and suggested that its "majoritarian" outlook should be "resolutely" opposed.

"Kashmiri people cannot be held hostage to an India- Pakistan confrontation. Instead of adopting a national chauvinist posture, the Modi government must take up the thread of resuming talks with Pakistan as it was decided by the two countries last year," Karat said.
Lashing out at Pakistan for "glorifying" terrorists, Modi had yesterday declared that the country will not bow before terrorism even as he said people of Balochistan and PoK have thanked him for raising issue of atrocities against them.