Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, opened the debate on unrest in Kashmir in Rajya Sabha.
Asserting that Kashmiris are "our own people who are being misguided", Home Minister Rajnath Singh today blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the Kashmir Valley and said the forces had been asked to use maximum restraint while dealing with protests.
"Our government and the state government have repeatedly asked the forces to use maximum restraint in Kashmir. If weapons have to be used, they must be non-lethal," Mr Singh said during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the protests in Kashmir after the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani.
In protests over past few days, over 40 have been killed in firing by security forces and nearly 2,100 have been injured. Over 600 have pellet injuries and may lose their eyesight.
The use of pellet guns, which have been blamed for most of the civilian injuries, would be looked into, Mr Singh said as the government was attacked by opposition parties for "disproportionate use of force."
The home minister referred to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's comment on 'Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat and Insaniyat' (Kashmiri-ness, democracy and humanity) and said: "Those who believe in Kashmiriyat and Insaniyat, cannot give space to haivaniyat (evil)."
Accusing Pakistan of sponsoring the violence, the Home Minister commented: "The name is 'Pakistan', but its acts are 'na-pak' (not pious)."
The opposition accused the state's PDP-BJP government of failing to win the trust of the local people. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said: "Should civilians be treated in the same manner as militants? We are with the government in ending militancy but can't support this treatment of civilians."
Union Minister Arun Jaitley, responding to the Congress' allegations, said: "The fight is between the country and the separatists and common people are standing with the country, which is in the national interest."
Parts of Kashmir have been under a curfew for several days. Cellphone and internet services have been blocked in many parts of the state to prevent volatile rumours.