Congress questions PM's remarks on insaniyat, jamhooriyat

NEW DELHI: Congress today raised questions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks about ' insaniyat', ' jamhooriyat' and ' Kashmiriyat' and said appeal should go out to Kashmiris from the "heart" rather than "lips" only to enable "integration of minds and heart".

As the Rajya Sabha took up a discussion on the prevailing situation in Kashmir, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad pitched for sending an all-party delegation to the valley besides an appeal by Parliament for end to violence which is being witnessed there for the last 33 days.

"We should appeal for peace and tranquility from here for better future of Kashmir. This kind of unison voice should go from Parliament. That apart, an all-party delegation should go there," the Congress leader said, adding the announcement regarding it should be made immediately as the session is coming to an end in two days.

Initiating the discussion, Azad said criticised the Prime Minister for his "delayed" comments on the Kashmir situation and said even those were made at a rally in Madhya Pradesh rather than in Parliament.

"We are discussing the Kashmir issue for the fourth time. The Prime Minister should come. The Prime Minister chose Madhya Pradesh to speak on Kashmir. He did not come to this House," he said, adding "Since when has Madhya Pradesh become the capital of the country?"

Azad took a swipe on Modi regarding his statement on 'Insaniyat (humanity), Jamhooriyat (democracy) and Kashmriyat, saying such statements only suited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"Such words sound weird if it comes from someone who does not believe in them," he said.

The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir said such words should come from the "heart" and not only from the lips.