'Develop peace zones in JK; reduce forces'

Srinagar, May 25: Jammu and Kashmir CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has urged the Centre to identify areas which could be developed as ''peace zones and gradually reduce the size'' of security forces deployed in the strife-torn state.

Presenting a paper at the second round-table conference chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, he also called upon the Centre to bring the central forces deployed for internal security in the state under the Human Rights Commission.

The CPI(M) state secretary demanded measures for providing ''fair and prompt trial'' to all detenues and release those not involved in heinous crimes.

The Government should provide substantive relief to the victims of violence irrespective of their affiliations, he added.

Mr Tarigami said reports of inquiries conducted in the incidents of human rights violations so far should be made public.

He demanded constitution of a high-level inquiry committee for conducting a probe into the matter of disappeared people.

The CPI(M) leader also urged the Centre to hand over Uri and Salal hydel power projects to the state.

''Released people, under preventive detention but not sentenced by courts and living a peaceful life, are being denied job opportunities in government services and also passport facilities.

This needs to be undone,'' he demanded.

He said talks should be initiated with Pakistan to open the Haji Peer pass, which connects Baramulla with Poonch, as it would reduce the distance and time between these two districts.

''If Pakistan refuses to open Haji Peer pass, then an alternate route should be built to connect the two districts,'' he added.

Mr Tarigami urged both India and Pakistan to facilitate the return of youth who crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for arms training and were now willing to return and join the mainstream. He also called upon the two countries to ease restrictions on travel documents to ensure maximum possible people-to-people contact on both sides of the LoC.

''Both India and Pakistan should facilitate the return of youth who crossed the LoC during the turmoil and now want to live a peaceful life,'' Mr Tarigami told the conference.

He also urged the two countries to encourage extensive academic, legislative, social, cultural, media and sports interaction across the LoC.

''Identify and initiate joint development and environment projects in areas of mutual interest across the LoC. Both the governments should evolve a mechanism for joint management of water resources, electricity, tourism and environment,'' the CPI(M) state secretary said.

He said trade in goods and services should be developed through all traditional routes across the LoC.

Besides the roads and buses plying between the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir, it was high time to restore telephone links across the LoC, Mr Tarigami stressed.

''At the time of signing the Indus-Basin treaty, the interests of the state have not been suitably accommodated due to which the state has suffered huge losses as such Jammu and Kashmir should be compensated for the losses,'' the CPI(M) leader demanded.

Mr Tarigami said Jammu and Kashmir, on both sides of the LoC, has been in deep crisis for long. ''All pervading violence in our state has torn apart the social fabric, men and women have lost dignity and the children their innocence,'' he added. He said thousands of youth have been deprived of gainful employment and the local economy was in a state of ruins.

''There is erosion of values and an air of degeneration is catching up. We need to deliver ourselves from this morass.'' The CPI(M) leader demanded a comprehensive programme for economic development, construction of requisite political structure, repairing of social fractures, rehabilitation of population evicted from their ancestral homes and properties, and compensation for families having suffered at the hands of either militants or the ''government forces''.

He said the path of dialogue, peace and friendship could be painstaking, time consuming and beset with ups and downs.

''But, one need not be disappointed because there is no royal road to success other than that of debate and discussion. Wisdom and statesmanship lies in consistency and patiently following the course of negotiated settlement of issues amid challenges, howsoever formidable,'' Mr Tarigami added.

He reiterated the CPI(M)'s position that there could be no cut and dry formula, but the solution has to emerge out of the process and not presented as a readymade proposition.

UNI

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