Kashmir unrest: Why Ghulam Nabi Azad slammed Tarekh Fateh, Taslima Nasreen & TV debates

Slams Tarekh Fateh and Taslima Nasreen

"There are some people who came from outside. Taslima Nasreen was thrown out of Bangladesh for writing against Islam. We gave her asylum on humanitarian grounds. She comes on television channels and spews venom against Islam. May be the central government has no involvement in this. But when someone under asylum goes on national channel and badmouths Islam, who do we blame other than the central government?".

"Author Tarekh Fateh who was banished from Pakistan for writing against Islam also comes on Indian television and says anything about the religion," he added.

Both Fateh and Nasreen took to Twitter to voice their displeasure over Azad's comments:

do we hv to be pro religion,pro fundamentalism,pro terrorism,pro zakir naik to appear on indian tv?wht about critical thinking?not allowed?

— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) July 18, 2016

I am humbled. @GhulamNAzad, leader of the India's opposition Congress @INCIndia attacks me by name in India's UpperHouse @RajyaSabha

— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) July 18, 2016

'Disproportionate use of force by centre'

The Congress leader, who has earlier served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, slammed the government for using disproportionate force on the civilians. Elaborating on the degree of force being used against civilians he said:

"Militants died in the 90s as well, however, I am sorry to say the situation now is even worse... the way guns have been used, rubber pellets have been used to target civilians is unprecedented. I got a Whatsapp message showing a DIG kicking a child not more than four or five-year old. These images of little kids being beaten with lathi may not have made to the national media so much, but they are published in Kashmiri newspapers. Yes kids sometimes resort to stone-pelting. No one supports that. But will you not make any distinction between how you treat civilians and militants."

On the use of use of rubber pellets that have led to several cases of blinding and eye injuries Azad said: "We saw violence breaking out in neighboring state Haryana. But rubber pellets were never used there. 1,800 people including children and women are injured and most of the damage has been caused by pellet guns. "

He also alleged that the inflammatory statements made by the leaders of the ruling party contributed to the environment of anger in Kashmir: "The worst part is they get away making such statements. Despite being in the ruling party or the cabinet they make such statements that create divide in society and no action is taken against them."

Azad also demanded an inquiry into the activities of controversial televangelist Zakir Naik - whose peace TV and Islamic Foundation are under the scanner for "inspiring" two terrorists who carried out the cafe attack in Holey artisan bakery in Bangladesh. "But those people who talk about giving Rs 50 lakh for someone's head should also be punished," he said, referring to Sadvi Prachi's statement offering Rs 50 lakh to anyone who kills Naik.

"How do you conduct a one-sided inquiry. All these things lead to Kashmir like situation. This is where you fail to give justice," he added.

Calling the BJP a misfit in Jammu and Kashmir politics, Azad said that the unrest was a result of the people of the state rejecting the party. "Despite a 10-day curfew why do you think the situation hasn't normalised. People are ready to live without food. That means they are really hurt. "

Calling for an all-party meeting to discuss the issue, Azad said that if excessive force has been used on the people of Kashmir then the responsibility for the same must be fixed and due action taken.