As it happened: Debate in Rajya Sabha over Kashmir unrest

Rajya Sabha is holding a discussion on the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Opposition parties, cutting across political lines, slammed the Centre over excessive use of force in Jammu and Kashmir, and cautioned the government that bullets can’t bring a solution to the current unrest in the Valley.

Home minister Rajnath Singh speaks in Rajya Sabha.(Photo credit: RSTV)

During the discussion on the latest Kashmir crisis – arising out of the clashes between the protesters and security forces – in Rajya Sabha, Opposition parties also urged the government to immediately start a dialogue process with the Kashmiri people.

Below are the highlights from the Rajya Sabha discussion on Kashmir crisis:

5:40pm: I want to assure the House that we will take everyone along if we take any decision. This country is not just ours, it belongs to everyone, says home minister

5:38pm: No one should be concerned about Muslims in India, we Indians are concerned about them, says Rajnath

5:36pm: I am constantly in touch with J&K CM and whatever needs to be done to stabilise the state we will do it, says home minister

5:34pm: Whatever is happening in J&K is totally Pak sponsored. It may be called Pakistan - every action is `Na’ Pak, says Rajnath Singh

5:32pm: 1744 injured civilians treated & have been discharged. 1671 security force personnel were injured & one jawan died, says Rajnath

5:30pm: 15 serious cases were registered against Burhan Wani, says Rajnath Singh

5:26pm: We had asked forces to not use fatal weapons. 1948 civilians were injured, many already discharged, says Rajnath Singh

5:22pm: Home minister Rajnath Singh says I had asked the government in J&K to exercise maximum restraint

5:10pm: Congress’ Pramod Tiwari says the govt should show strength and political will to fight terrorism

4:55pm: Abhishek Manu Singhvi of Congress says you can’t have a ‘one size fits all’ approach in Jammu and Kashmir.

4:24pm: Kashmir is always a political problem and it needs a political, says D Raja

4:22pm: D Raja of CPI says the govt must consider convening an all-party meet so that a conclusion can be evolved that will help in solving the problem we are witnessing today.

4:10pm: Dr Karan Singh, INC, says we have to accept we are facing a serious problem of trust in the Valley.

4:06pm: DMK’s Tiruchi Siva says unrest in Kashmir is not just law and order situation. What we need in Kashmir is a healing touch, he says.

4:00 pm: We should try to stabilise the situation in Kashmir, says NCP’s Praful Patel.

3:50pm: Satish Chandra Misra of BSP says Kashmiris should maintain calm and peace, this will help improve situation in the Valley.

3:48pm: Need to send a message to the people of Kashmir that they are an integral part of India: Yechury

3:44pm: Probe use of excessive force in the Valley, says Yechury

3:40pm: Why this ‘Blow Hot, Blow Cold’ policy towards Pakistan, asks Yechury

3:34pm: CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury says the violence in Kashmir proves the use of excessive force

3:18pm: JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav says its painful to see the situation of the Valley at present

3:16pm: I urge the govt to begin the dialogue process with our own people, says Derek O’ Brien

3:11pm: Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’ Brien says the government has to realise that they mishandled the situation.

3:06pm: What is happening in Kashmir is a serious concern for Indian democracy. J-K is a part and parcel of India, says AIADMK’s Vijila Sathyananth

3:05pm: Samajwadi Party will always stand with the country, not with the votes, says Naresh Aggarwal

2:59pm: Samajwadi Party’s Naresh Aggarwal says if needed, a parliamentary delegation should be sent to Kashmir.

2:52pm: Our fight is with the separatists, says Jaitley

2:46pm: Pakistan never reconciled to the idea of J-K being a part of India. That’s the basic reason for unrest:says Jaitley

2:42pm: The battle is between the country and separatists

2:40pm: There are times when we should rise above political differences for the nation

2:39pm: I agree with Ghulam Nabi Azad that the situation in Kashmir is tense

2:37pm: Finance minister Arun Jaitley is now speaking on the Kashmir issue

2:36pm: Would like to tell the people of Pak that the kind of killings that happen in their country, they should observe black day everyday

2:32pm: Conduct probe into Zakir Naik’s activities but take action against your MP who makes a threat against his life

2:30pm: I am for the freedom of press. But press’ freedom should not become a reason for destruction

2:28pm: I want to congratulate the Muslims of Kashmir who did not let the situation to be communalised

2:27pm: We don’t want Kashmir to simmer.

2:25pm: The ground situation is bad. There is a curfew since past 10 days. People are ready to live without food in this curfew.

2:24pm: J-K CM said security forces used disproportionate force on protesters in Kashmir. What is the reason that disproportionate force is not used in any other state?

2:23pm: Kashmir is a sensitive state.

2:21pm: People of J&K have a sense of mistrust towards the current Government

2:20pm: I am not saying that Kashmiri people had complete faith when Congress was in power, but there was a sense of trust in some corner

2:18pm: Action is not being taken against members of the government who make irresponsible statements

2:12pm: We stand with the Government in ending militancy but we don’t support this kind of treatment with civilians: Azad

2:10pm: Pellets were not used in Haryana during protests for quota; why are they being used in Kashmir:

2:08pm: People have died in all 10 districts of the Valley. Bullets which are used to kill militants; should they be used on children? asks Azad

2:05pm: Why have conditions in Kashmir have got worse from 2008-10 to now, says Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad

At least 41 people have been killed and more than 1,800 injured in week-long clashes between civilians and security forces following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.

The violence has also seen mounting anger against the PDP, which is in alliance with the BJP, a party that is deeply unpopular in the Valley due to its perceived hardline Hindu policies.