JAMMU & KASHMIR

A Convention For Peace And People’s Rights

O N Trisal

A CONVENTION was organised by the state unit of the CPI(M) on July 9, 2005 at Tagore Hall, Srinagar in which a large number of Party activists, office bearers and members from different corners of the valley assembled. The expansive hall and its gallery were filled to capacity with no space for hundreds, who had to stand outside, to hear the speakers. The hall was decorated with attractive banners, Party  flags and festoons, presenting the scene of a revolutionary gathering.

Seven resolutions pertaining to the burning issues confronting the people of the state were moved in the convention, which in fact constituted the theme, as well as the agenda of the convention.

POWER PROJECTS

The convention opened with the speech of Ghulam Nabi Malik, the general secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Tehreek and the senior state committee member of the Party. He moved a resolution on allocating Uri and Salal Hydroelectric project to the state. Elaborating on the resolution, he stated that J&K could not fully utilise the waters of the rivers flowing through it as a result of the terms and conditions laid down under Indus Water Treaty (IWT), entered into between India and Pakistan. He said that the total storage capacity of water allowed to the state was drastically reduced and the state was permitted only run-of-water projects on all its rivers, resulting in curtailment of its power-generation capacity. This is forcing the state to depend upon high cost generation or to go for huge import of costly power from the central grid, involving an annual loss of nearly Rs 650 crore (1998-99). This situation is also rendering thousands of hectares of cultivable land to remain non-irrigated. He referred to the under construction Baglihar project, which had come under cloud recently, and said that the state has not been given due share in a number of central sector power projects, despite the sacrifice it made for the nation, under the terms of IWT. He demanded allocation of Uri and Salal power projects to the state, as the centre had already realised all the money spent on these projects.

HIT BY IMPORTS FROM WEST

The veteran kisan leader, Abdul Hamid Wani, while moving the resolution on horticulture, stated that the so-called economic reforms had landed the marginal fruit grower of the state into bankruptcy. He is reeling under the unequal competition with unrestricted fruit imports from such countries as USA, Australia and Holland. With the increasing costs of inputs and no incentives from the state government, the farmer could not compete in the world market and is thus being reduced to misery and penury. Wani demanded easy credit, expert guidance, standard inputs on reasonable terms to the grower and setting up of jam/juice plants in the state, which could absorb the entire culled fruit produce, procurable by the government at Rs 6/kg. Besides providing cold storage facilities in the state, the government should establish fruit mandis in every Tehsil.

RAMPANT CORRUPTION

Mohammad Khalil Naik, CPI(M) MLA, moved the resolution on corruption prevailing in the state. He stated that the present coalition regime had come to power on the main issue of elimination of corruption, which had taken roots at every level of administration. But even after three years in power, nothing had been done on this front and the ordinary man was facing hardships. He deplored that the Accountability Act passed in 2002 itself had so far not been implemented, conveying an impression that this regime was not serious on the issue.

Naik demanded immediate implementation of the Act without giving in to political interference. He also underlined the need to bring in its ambit not just some small fries but also the big sharks involved in corruption.

Mohammad Yaqoob Ganai, president JKDYF, speaking on the resolution on unemployment stated that three lakh educated youth of the state were rendered incapable of standing on their own legs.  The economic policies being pursued by the state government were not only resulting in joblessness but also in joblosses. He decried the state government for moving on a course of contractualisation and casualisation in recruitment to government jobs. There were, he said, large number of youth engaged in Rahbari Taleem and Rahbari Sehat schemes, who were being paid paltry amounts of Rs 1500 per month, and that too on a temporary basis. He demanded creation of an industrial base in the state, with diversification in agriculture. Monthly stipend to educated unemployed youth and filling of government vacancies on permanent basis and right of work to be made a fundamental right in the Constitution of India were the other demands placed by him.

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE LINKS

Senior trade union leader and journalist Abdul Gani Hafiz moved the resolution seeking free flow of people across the lines dividing Jammu and Kashmir. He explained that the recently opened solitary route of Srinagar-Muzzafarabad was confined to travel of divided families only. Besides, the buses were allowed to ply only twice a month. This, he said, was an inadequate response to the urge of the vast sections of the people on both sides who wanted to develop trade and cultural links and an exchange of visits by professionals, artists, journalists and others. He demanded that the route be thrown open to ordinary residents, traders, cultural groups and people belonging to different walks of life. He also demanded opening of Jammu-Sialkote, Poonch-Rawalkote and Askardo-Kargil routes on a similar pattern.

Bashir Assad, the youth leader moved the resolution on facilitating the return of youth from across the LoC. He explained that a sizable number of youth had left the valley during the years of turmoil but were desirous of returning to their homes to lead peaceful lives. He stated that under the present conditions of détente, their return could prove to be an important input for peace process. He demanded that government of India and Pakistan chalk out a mutually agreed strategy to facilitate such return.

Another resolution was moved on human rights. It stated that despite serious provocations by lawless elements, the security forces were expected to act with restraint. The resolution referred to killings of unarmed, uninvolved and innocent people and shooting down of people for holding certain political views or participation in polls, which brought central forces in the interior areas on a large scale. It was stated that all this could not justify excesses, custodial killings, causing mysterious “disappearances”, contrived encounters, harassment to youth and molestation of women. These acts would be gross violations of human rights. It stated that both India and Pakistan happened to be the signatories to UN charter and the resolution on universal declaration of human rights, which obliged both countries to defend human rights of people, whatever the provocations. The resolution demanded immediate end to such violations, particularly in the valley.

TARIGAMI’s SPEECH

Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, CPI(M) state secretary, in his concluding speech gave a call for initiating a people’s movement in Kashmir, cutting across the stated positions in order to bring solace to the wounded hearts. He explained that the credit for the present thaw in the sub-continent was an outcome of people’s earnest desire for peace and not out of any miracle brought about by the politicians who shed crocodile tears. He stated that the process of peace and reconciliation had become irreversible and those who wanted to put spokes in the wheel of this process, would be reduced to the dustbin of history. He warned that vested interests were still active and people’s wisdom alone could remove all the hurdles in the path of peace.

Recalling the centuries of Kashmir’s oppression, Tari-gami stated that people had borne immense sufferings during past centuries but they never bent-down. He said Kashmiris do not want surrender nor the peace of graveyard. He stated that the process of reconciliation was hailed by the people of Kashmir, and they wanted this process to move forward with greater pace. He stated that Kashmiris had seen enough of poll dramas in the past; what they wanted today was dignity and self-reliance. He said that in the name of Kashmir both the countries were punishing their own people by diverting the limited resources towards arms race. He said that the wounds of Kashmir had turned into a cancer, which had to be healed by taking bold initiatives with a human angle.

Tarigami explained that no solution could come out from anyone’s pocket. It could, he stated, evolve only out of the ongoing peace process, in which all shades of opinions had to be carried along, including the stand point of even those, who, in a fit of passion, or in desperation climbed the mountains and took up the gun. He said that the incarcerated youth, against whom there were no serious charges, should be handed over to their parents and elders who could chastise them.

Tarigami made a fervent appeal for hearing the voice of Kashmir and said that the present opportunity had to be grasped and the peace mission carried to its logical conclusion.

The convention came to a close amidst slogans of "Strengthen the Peace Process", "End Human Rights Violations" and "Long live CPI (M)".