The Congress demanded a judicial inquiry into the unrest at NIT Srinagar. (File photo)
Congress today demanded a judicial inquiry into the unrest at NIT Srinagar to ascertain whether any political party was behind the clashes between local and outstation students.
"Our party demands a fair and fearless judicial inquiry. We want to know whether any political party is playing politics here. We do not want that politics be involved in the issues of students. Students may have differences but they are to be resolved amicably," Congress general secretary Ambika Soni told reporters in Srinagar.
On reports that some students from Kashmir were being targeted outside the state, Ms Soni said Congress was totally against such incidents as students have the right to study anywhere in the country.
"That should not happen. Our government (UPA) had facilitated the admission of Kashmiri students in various medical colleges across the country on humanitarian grounds. Why would we want them to face any hardships?
"Every student, whether in Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Punjab or Bengal, has a right under the Indian Constitution to study wherever he or she wants. Why should there be any misbehavior with them? We are totally against that," she said.
The Congress leader said the people of the state should be "cautious as only opportunism and compromises can be expected from the PDP-BJP coalition."
"We will never let the state of J-K get disintegrated because all three regions are part of this state and we have never fallen victim to slogans of dividing the state.
"But when two parties, which are opposite to each other and have no ideological match, form a coalition, they do so just for the sake of power. What will you expect from them except opportunism and compromises and people need to be cautious," she said.
Asked what are the expectations of the party from the states where Assembly elections are taking place, Ms Soni said, "See how they (BJP) fared in Bihar. We were in power for 15 years in Delhi and it was impossible for us to retain power after 15 years, but they only got 3. AAP took all.
"They (BJP) are raising slogans of Congress-free India, let them win elections. Let them win elections and defeat Congress. Though we have less MPs in the Parliament, they are still making it difficult for them (BJP) and stopping them from doing wrong," she said.
"Similarly, I want the Congress party to become the voice of the people and stand as watch guard here. We will prepare ourselves in every district to fight for the rights of the people."
On the party's readiness for by-polls in Anantnag Assembly constituency of south Kashmir which fell vacant after former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away on January 7, she said, "Our candidate Hilal (Shah) will fight. He gave a very tough fight last time as well."
Ms Soni said the Congress would fight the Anantnag by-poll as well as the urban local bodies elections in the state on its own.
"We are on our own. We formed the government with NC (in 2009) but we fought the elections (in 2014) on our own. We will have constructive cooperation whenever the interests of the state are at stake. Whenever the state is facing any danger, we cooperate with all the opposition parties and not let the state suffer," she said.
She said the party would raise those issues in the polls which have not been addressed yet like the issue of relief to flood victims.
"We want relief for the people of Kashmir like UPA gave to Uttarakhand. (Former Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh opened his heart for the people that time and did not give them cheques worth Rs 2,000 or 5,000," she said.
Earlier, the Congress general secretary addressed a workers convention at the party headquarters.