Instilling fear to silence people isn’t peace: Kanhaiya

Irfan Tramboo

Srinagar, Sept 28: Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar today stated that stability in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be ensured by instilling “fear,” emphasizing that there is a difference between “peace” and “silence.”
Addressing a public gathering as part of the election campaign for phase 3 polls in North Kashmir’s Kreeri, Kanhaiya urged people to seek an alternative and base their decisions on the experiences of the last 10 years.
While campaigning for Congress candidate, Irfan Lone, Kanhaiya criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arguing that the PM does not understand the difference between peace and stability, progress and exploitation, and lacks an understanding of “injustice.”
“I saw large posters of the PM here, claiming peace, progress, and stability. But there’s a difference between peace and silence. A person who cannot distinguish between peace and silence, cannot understand injustice,” Kanhaiya said.
He further added, “If progress means exploiting resources, then he lacks compassion. And if he believes that creating fear leads to stability, then he doesn’t even understand the basics.”
Kanhaiya encouraged the crowd to vote for an alternative if they felt they had faced excesses over the past several years.
“If you feel something better has happened, then support those making that claim. But if you believe you have faced injustice and had your rights taken away, then the alternative is in front of you.”
Recalling the response from people during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Kanhaiya said, “The people of Kashmir told us that, for years, no one came to meet them. The PM launched the Digital India initiative, but Kashmir’s internet was cut off. Now that elections are here, various people come to seek votes.”
In a veiled attack on the PDP’s alliance with the BJP, and stressing that these elections are about restoring Statehood and rights, he said, “There was a robbery in the village, but who guided the thief? It’s important to understand that as well.”
Regarding Independent candidates, Kanhaiya said they are “slaves” and “dependent” on Amit Shah. “He is the biggest engineer of hate in this country, where it’s become a battle between love and hate, and we are determined to defeat hate.”
On the same occasion, Congress candidate from Kreeri, Irfan Lone, remarked that the Bharat Jodo Yatra shattered the BJP’s dream of crossing 400 seats, accusing the party of relying on lies.
“BJP is built on lies. They repeat lies until they become the truth. The PM promised Rs 10 lakh in people’s bank accounts-did that happen? He said after August 5, 2019, there would be a ‘Naya Kashmir,’ and that Kashmiri Pandits would return. Did that happen? People are still facing issues,” Lone said.