The mainstream Opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday asked the government to immediately call a special session of the state legislature to discuss the ongoing unrest in the Valley, its
The mainstream Opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday asked the government to immediately call a special session of the state legislature to discuss the ongoing unrest in the Valley, its reasons and implications. Such initiation, they said, should have come from the state government but it has “failed in fulfilling this responsibility at this crucial juncture.”
They also called for an end to excesses allegedly being perpetuated on the people by security forces and a judicial probe by a retired judge of the Supreme Court into the “excessive use of force” on civilians and for fixing responsibility. They impressed upon the Central government to initiate a “meaningful dialogue” with all stakeholders “given that the issue in Kashmir is largely of a political nature.”
The leaders of these Opposition parties held a meeting here on the invitation of former chief minister and National Conference (NC) working president, Omar Abdullah, to discuss the situation in the state in the backdrop of 40-day-old turbulence in the valley which has, so far, claimed 66 lives and left thousands of civilians and security personnel injured.
The others who attended the meeting include J&K PCC chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir, CPIM’s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Democratic Nationalist Party leader Ghulam Hassan Mir and Peoples’ Democratic Front chief Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen.
and Awami Itehad Party leader Engineer Sheikh Abdur Rashid. Other leaders of these parties also spoke at the meeting. At the end of the meeting, four resolutions were adopted and in one of these the parties expressed grave concern and grief over the prevailing situation and heartfelt condolences with the families of those who lost their lives and solidarity with the seriously injured people. In another resolution, the parties expressed “deep disappointment” and displeasure” at the response of both the Central and the state governments “which stems from their insensitivity towards the suffering and sentiments of the people of the state.”
In a third resolution, the parties said that a detailed discussion on the current situation is required and the same is imperative. “It is unfortunate that rather than the initiation of a discussion coming from the government it is the opposition parties that have initiated discussions in both houses of the Parliament on more than one occasions. “We’re grateful to those leaders and parties that have expressed their solidarity and sympathy with the people of the state in the prevailing situation and also voiced their concerns and suggestions.”
The meeting observed that the areas hitherto peaceful and being dragged into hostile situation by nocturnal raids and arrests, including under the state’s stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and wanton harassment of the youth by the police and other security forces “which has further aggravated the extremely volatile situation.” It demanded an immediate end to such measures. The meeting also demanded the use of pellet guns be immediately discontinued “without waiting for the so-called committee of the Central government to take cognizance of the hunaitarian crisis in the Valley in this respect.” The meeting expressed serious concern over the fact that the use of pellet gunshas maimed, blinded and handicapped hundreds of young boys and girls over the past 40 days.
The meeting also said that J&K has always been a beacon of communal harmony and religious tolerance even in the most difficultcircumstances. “We appeal to the people of the state and all stakeholders to continue safeguarding and upholding this legacy at all costs,” a statement issued at the end of the meeting said.
