Strong arm method would not work in Kashmir, PDP to Centre

Srinagar, Sep 9 (UNI) Condemning the use of force on unarmed processionists in the Kashmir valley, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said the strongarm method would not work to restore peace in the valley.

In a statement here party's Senior Vice-President Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, General Secretary Nizamudin Bhat and General Secretary Youth Wing Bashir Assad said, the manner in which New Delhi was dealing with the popular upsurge in Kashmir makes it obvious that those in authority have refused to learn appropriate lessons from their past mistakes.

They said reports of harassment of youth, ransacking houses by the security forces, intimidation and indiscriminate arrests were no answer to the people's alienation.

The PDP leaders said the government was not serious in its efforts to bring the estranged people of Kashmir on the dialogue table.

''The official response to the radically changed situation not only lacks logic but even commonsense, not to speak of political understanding and administrative acumen'', they said.

The leaders said instead of demonstrating political wisdom to deal with the present situation, the authorities were mindlessly using intimidation and use of brute force to crush the popular upsurge.

The joint statement said in South Kashmir, Anantnag town, the early 90s were being repeated by reinforce notorious renegades (surrendered militants) to subjugate the masses.

They said what is sending wrong message to the protesting Kashmiris is the contrast in which the authorities have handled the situation in Jammu and are now handling in the valley.

The misbelieve that the situation can be tackled by using strong-arm methods while keeping the main issue under carpet and tiring out the protestors needs to be abandoned.

The PDP leaders urged the centre to address the alienation of the Kashmiri people through healing touch policy and initiate a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with the people of all shades in Kashmir including the Coordination Committee to resolve the crises.

There is need for taking certain confidence building measures like release of all political detenues, putting an end to the human rights violations, revocations of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for trade purposes besides compensating the huge losses suffered by the traders and fruit growers of the valley due to the economic blockade by the right wing BJP and its allies.

But to create a congenial atmosphere for dialogue, the atrocities have to be stopped forthwith, they demanded.

UNI BAS KK GC1752