People's Democracy

Ensure Sustained Dialogue

Tarigami At The Kashmir Round Table Conference

The challenges facing India today in Kashmir are to ensure to undo the past blunders and evolve credible mechanisms and institutions for sustained dialogue at different levels, between New Delhi and Islamabad and between New Delhi and different shades of opinion in different regions of Jammu and Kashmir, observed Com.Mohd.Yousuf Tarigami, Jammu and Kashmir state secretary of CPI(M) in his opening remarks at the round table conference on Kashmir convened by the Prime Minister. He felt this kind of mechanism would bring the much-needed momentum to the Indo-Pak peace process. 

This is the first kind of meeting initiated by the Union government involving leaders of various shades of opinion for finding a solution to the long pending problems of Kashmir region. Tarigami began his speech asking the participants to observe a minute of silence in memory of innocent victims killed in Handwara violence. 4 young boys lost their lives in Handwara violence. Welcoming the Government of India’s initiative, Tarigami said that nobody is expecting overnight solutions. He observed that the process to find solutions is important.  He stressed the importance of the process of dialogue and discussion and felt that it requires careful thought and commitment. Experience shows, he said, that confidence among the concerned parties can be built through a properly ordered process and feared that it can also get retarded with poorly prepared initiatives.

Tarigami told the audience that evolving credible mechanisms for interaction between the people must be corresponded simultaneously by both the sides of Line of Control through bus, rail services, respective legislatures and through join economic initiatives.

He said that CPI(M) considered providing a greater degree of regional autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir is important to make any breakthrough. “We have suggested that Jammu and Kashmir be converted into a federation and dilutions made in Article 370 be rectified”, he said.

Expressing regret at the non-participation of separatist leaders in the roundtable, Tarigami said this was an opportunity for them and they should have attended the meet. There could be agreements and disagreements but “it is not the end of the game”.

‘The Hurriyat and the separatists can join later and the application of force will not lead us anywhere...dialogue is important,” he added.

The Prime Minister convened the round table conference on Kashmir that was attended by Congress, NC, PDP, Panthers Party, BJP, CPI(M), CPI and intellectuals and cultural groups.