PM failed to fulfill promise on HR abuses in J

Srinagar, Nov 19 (UNI) Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress leadership have ''totally failed'' in fulfilling their promise of zero tolerance against the human rights violations in troubled Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a rally of party workers at the Sher-i-Kashmir cricket stadium here, he claimed that the rights abuse continued unabated in the strife-torn state.

''Human rights violations are continuing unabated in Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister and the Congress leadership have totally failed in fulfilling their promise of zero tolerance against the human rights abuses in the state.'' Mr Yadav said.

He claimed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have lost faith in New Delhi because of the Congress' machinations. ''They (the Congress) arrested late Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah in 1953. They can arrest me too for raising a voice in favour of the Muslims.'' The SP supremo also attacked the Congress for the Babri Masjid demolition, saying it was the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who opened the locks of the mosque for the first time.

''The move culminated in the demolition of the Babri mosque by the Hindutva forces,'' he added.

Mr Yadav also criticised his successor and BSP supremo Mayawati, saying she sacked 11,000 Muslims appointed by him during his tenure as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

This was for the first time that the SP organised a rally in the Kashmir valley.

SP General Secretary Amar Singh, Rajya Sabha members Abu Asim Aazmi and Shahid Siddiqui were among those who addressed the rally here, organised to strengthen the party in Jammu and Kashmir which is likely to go to the polls next year.

The visit of the SP leaders in Kashmir came a day after a public meeting of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in Jammu yesterday.

Soon after his arrival here, Mr Yadav along with other SP leaders went straight to the historic Hazratbal shrine, housing the holy relic of the Prophet Mohammad, on city outskirts to pay obeisance there. They also laid a 'chadder' and offered prayers at the shrine.

UNI