Involve people to solve Kashmir issue, Pandit Bazaz to India, Pak

Srinagar, May 5 (UNI) Rejecting the economic and other packages announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for Jammu and Kashmir, Democratic Forum (DF) president Pandit Bushan Bazaz today said peace in the sub continent was not possible without addressing the Kashmir issue.

''The economic and other packages of Dr Singh for the state are meaningless until the basic issue is resolved'', Mr Bazaz said here.

He said peace in the sub-continent was possible only after the vexed issue is resolved. He said, India and Pakistan should involve the people of Jammu and Kashmir before arriving at any solution.

Mr Bazaz said if the two neighbours arrive at any conclusion on the Kashmir issue without the participation of the people of the state, nothing can be achieved as many such agreements were already signed by them in the past.

The DF president said as the world was changing fast, India, Pakistan and the people of the state should sit together and resolve the Kashmir issue once for all for lasting peace in the region.

Expressing concern over the plight of non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits, living in different parts of the Valley, Pandit Bazaz said the Centre and the state governments were only announcing packages for Kashmiri Pandits who had left the valley in early nineties.

He said the government should immediately announce an employment package for the Kashmiri Pandit youths who had not migrated and stayed with their Muslim brethern.

In the recent Prime Minister's package for the state, the non-migrant pandits were ignored, he said and alleged that they were being punished for staying with their Muslim brethern in the valley.

Mr Bazaz, demanding an end of all Human Rights (HR) violations being committed by security forces and Special Operation Group of Jammu and Kashmir, said the special powers to them (security forces) should be immediately withdrawn.

He also demanded setting up of an independent committee to investigate who were buried in the unidentified graves in Uri and other parts of the Valley.

UNI BAS SK KP1307