People's Democracy

Constitute Parl’tary Committee to Engage

Political Shades, Voices of Dissent in Kashmir

 

The following is the statement issued by the J&K state committee of CPI(M) on October 5:

 

THE CPI (M) state secretary and MLA, Mohammad  Yousuf Tarigami has said that a credible structural mechanism in the shape of parliamentary committee is the need of the hour to engage varied shades of political opinion and voices of dissent for sorting out Kashmir issue.

 

Such panel, he said should be assisted by legal experts and knowledgeable bureaucrats to initiate dialogue on sustainable basis, adding that facilitating such paradigm in the state was imperative for the government.

 

Initiating discussion on ‘Prevailing situation in Kashmir valley’ in legislative assembly on October 5,  Tarigami said that there is nothing substantial in the eight-point package announced by the center in the wake of all Party delegation’s visit to Kashmir. He said most of the package components including the release of arrested youth, review of PSA cases, deployment of security forces, additional assistance, opening of schools, etc., is exclusive jurisdiction and competence of state government. “These injunctions, as such amount to encroaching upon the powers of state government”, he said. He called upon the government not to allow advice on the subjects of its own jurisdiction; instead it should act on these matters swiftly on its own.

 

Asserting that recurring unrest in the state is sending alarm bells to the central government for initiating serious, result oriented and pragmatic measures to sort out Kashmir issue permanently; Tarigami called upon the centre to rise to the occasion or else the state will turn more volatile, the repercussions of which would impact the entire Indian security set up.

 

Tarigami castigated political forces, which disfavor action against erring security personnel in Kashmir, saying that black sheep in the security forces are denting the credibility of the entire institution of security. The protection of erring security officials thus amounts to defaming government; he said adding that let CRPF, BSF and Army not be the only façade of India. 

 

The CPI(M) state secretary said that Kashmiris had acceded to India in defiance of Pakistan propounded two nation theory for a brilliant secular image of then India under Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals. But Kashmiris have consistently suffered since then due to apathetic attitudes of successive central regimes, he said and called for putting an end to the sufferings and miseries of Kashmiri people.

 

Tarigami said protection of human life is a collective responsibility of all political parties including opposition, adding that nobody could absolve himself of his legitimate duties. Settlement of Kashmir problem demands wider political discourse, which is a prime responsibility of all political groups, he said.