New Delhi: Under opposition attack in the handling of unrest in the Kashmir Valley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told his NDA partners that his government has nothing to hide and would take everybody into confidence while dealing with it.
He made these remarks at a meeting of the NDA constituents which was preceded by a meet of the BJP Parliamentary Party Executive where he said the government will talk to all parties on the GST bill and seek to build a consensus for its passage.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told reporters that Modi touched upon the issue of ongoing unrest in Kashmir and sought views of the BJP allies.
"He said that the government had nothing to hide over the matter and it will take everybody into confidence," Raut said.
The Sena leader said he asked the Prime Minister to hold "chai pe charcha" (talk over tea) with the people of Kashmir.
He said the people did not like his 'chai pe charcha' with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even though his intentions may have been good.
Sena has had uneasy ties with BJP and often attacked the Modi government over a host of issues.
Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters that Modi explained to NDA leaders the importance of the GST bill and the need to pass it.
"All parties (of NDA) are together on the GST bill. The PM explained to them its importance and the need to pass it," he said.
The government had made similar points the all-party meet yesterday.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar also addressed the meetings and told the leaders about the government's agenda for the session.
Earlier in the day, top official sources had said the government will hold more meetings with opposition parties to build a consesus on the GST bill.
"On our part, we have made it clear to all political parties that we are ready for more discussions and have an open mind. We are ready to go the extra mile to build consensus over the GST bill," a senior minister said after the meeting.
"All political parties appear positive for passing the GST bill," he said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today accused Pakistan of sponsoring the unrest in the Kashmir Valley.
Responding to the questions raised by opposition members during debate on Kashmir issue in Rajya Sabha, Rajnath said, “Whatever is happening (in Kashmir), it is totally sponsored by Pakistan. The name is Pakistan (holy land) but the activities are all napak (unholy).”
Rajnath questioned the intention of Pakistan while interfering in internal matters of India.
Earlier in the day, Opposition in the Rajya Sabha pressed for holding an all-party meet to discuss the issue and pitched for a political solution rather than using "barrel of the gun" while dealing with the unrest.
During a short-duration discussion on the Kashmir situation, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said while his party stands with the Modi government and the coalition in the state in dealing firmly with militancy, the "excessive use" of force against the common citizens, including children and women, is not acceptable.
He underlined that Kashmir cannot be ruled "through the barrel of the gun or bullets" and demanded that responsibility be fixed for "excessive use" of force.
“Right now, we need to say that Kashmiris are ours, but everyone says that Kashmir is ours,” Azad said.
