People's Democracy

J&K: CPI(M) Team Meets PM

ON June 7, a CPI(M) delegation, led by its Jammu and Kashmir state secretary Mohd Yousuf Tarigami, raised the following issues with the prime minister during the latter’s two-day visit to the state.

The first point the delegation made was that dialogue is the key to strengthening the peace process in the South Asian region. Whatever provocations may be there, dialogue at different levels with Pakistan as well as with all shades of opinion in the state need to be unhesitatingly pursued and made purposeful and result-oriented.

Secondly, whenever signs of improvement in the situation become visible, criminal incidents like the fake encounter at Machill (Kupwara) put the whole political process in a reverse gear. This horrible incident is, of course, a national shame, and is bound to prove counter-productive. This ghastly incident must be condemned and culprits brought to book.

The delegation said the security situation in the state has substantially improved and therefore draconian laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) need to be repealed forthwith. Such draconian laws have become unwarranted and are likely to prove disadvantageous.

Efforts at every level must be made to restore the pluralistic ethos of the valley and for that, the delegation suggested, all the displaced people, including the Kashmiri Pundits, must the encouraged to return to the valley.

Moreover, due to recent natural calamities like cloudbursts, hailstorm and incessant rains, farmers, growers and tribal communities have suffered heavy losses in respect of agricultural and horticultural production and also in respect of the livestock. These losses must be assessed and compensated accordingly, the delegation demanded. The government of India must depute a central team for assessment of these losses and announce a special package for the affected people.

The prime minister assured that the matter will be taken up with the chief minister regarding the assessment of the losses and that measures would be subsequently taken to provide adequate relief to the affected people.

SPECIAL PACKAGE

DEMANDED

Demanding a special package from the centre for the rehabilitation of all those who have suffered massive losses due to the recent natural calamity in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the state unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) urged the state government on June 6 to project the case before the prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, during his two-day visit here.

The prime minister was scheduled to visit the state on June 7 and 8.

In a statement issued from Srinagar, state CPI(M) secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami demanded a special package from the centre for the rehabilitation of the farmers, growers and livestock owners who suffered massive losses due to recent rains, snowfall and hailstorm.

He urged the state government to project the losses before Dr Singh so that special financial assistance from the centre could be assured for providing relief to the people. 

Tarigami urged the government to take contingency measures to provide early relief to the affected people and said they should be provided immediate relief as per a preliminary assessment till the final losses were ascertained.

Referring to the recent hailstorm in north Kashmir, he said due to losses ranging from 50 to 80 per cent, the growers and farmers have been affected badly and left with no option as they cannot to carry on with their activities without the help from the government.

He said with the prevailing weather conditions in the valley, future losses could not be ruled out. He urged the government to be ready with an anticipated contingency plan to ensure timely and accurate relief and rescue operations.

He said the crop insurance scheme, recently announced for the state, should be implemented during this kharif season, and stressed on inclusion of the horticulture sector under the scheme.

Tarigami said just announcements were not going to render any positive impact until the scheme was implemented on the ground. He also demanded full insurance cover for the livestock population in the state.