CPI(M) urges Governor to hand over Kashmir Highway to Army

Srinagar, Aug 2 (UNI) Urging Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra to hand over the Srinagar-Jammu-Lakhanpur national highway to Army for smooth movement of traffic, the Communist Party of India (M) today described the overall situation in Jammu as quite explosive.

The CPI(M) state secretary M Y Tarigami in a statement appealed to the Governor to take all necessary steps for ensuring safety of the people and security of the National Highway.

It is unfortunate that a handful of people are spreading hatred and they have held the entire state to ransom. Such elements need to be checked and isolated in the overall interest of peace and tranquility, Mr Tarigami said and urged Mr Vohra to hand over the security of the highway to the Army.

He said fruits and other crops worth crores of rupees loaded in trucks are stranded in the valley and on this side of the Banihal.

There is every apprehension that the fruits will get damaged, he said.

He appealed to people of Jammu to uphold their age old tradition of tolerance, multi-culturalism and brotherhood and not to fall prey to machinations of ''fascist and divisive forces.'' The waywardness has instilled fear and insecurity in the people and all this is fraught with dangerous consequences, Mr Tarigami cautioned.

He has appealed to the authorities, particularly the law enforcing agencies to ensure safety for people of all faiths. The attacks on Kashmiri drivers and their vehicles besides Kashmir bound passengers, attempts of economic blockade, destroying and looting fruits bound for different markets of the country will have disastrous consequences if immediate steps to secure the National Highway are not taken, he added.

Mr Tarigami has appealed to the civil society, intelligentsia, the media and the citizens of Jammu to see through the machinations of communal forces operating at different levels and help build an atmosphere of peace.

There is no problem which can not be sorted out through dialogue and reconciliation. Let us not be swayed by emotions and false propaganda, he said.

Let us sit together and find a viable solution to the problem, he added.

UNI BAS MYK AM RAI1321