Do not let gains of peace slip away, PDP to BJP, Congress

Srinagar, Aug 3 (UNI) Warning that Jammu flare-up will plunge Jammu and Kashmir into a communal holocaust, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today said the anti-Kashmiri character with provocative and mindless overtones of communal forces, will bring the state at the verge of disintegration.

The PDP president addressing a zone level workers here said if not controlled, the Jammu flare-up will plunge the state into the communal holocaust.

''Those secular mainstream political parties, who talk and support one thing in Kashmir, have changed their colours in Jammu,'' she said and added that given the speeches of their top ranking leadership, it seems that they have joined hands with the communal forces and enemies of peace.

She said the prevailing grim situation cannot be allowed to dither anymore as it has the potential of not only impairing the gains of the peace process but striking at the roots of the State's integrity and its composite culture.

The PDP president remarked that attacks on weaker sections and minorities smack a conspiracy to divide the State on communal lines to the convenience of rabid communalists.

The economic blockade, forced against the people of valley and attacks on Jammu based employees from the Kashmir region speak volumes on how the atmosphere is being vitiated with the deliberate design of a showdown through vandalism and use of muscle power.

Ms Mufti made a pointed reference to the agitation in Kashmir saying that masses here did not resort to vandalism, selective targeting of minorities, or ransacking their properties.

''People showed utmost restraint for maintaining Kashmir's communal harmony and centuries-old pluralistic ethos,'' Ms Mufti said and added that it was a spontaneous public movement, wherein no person or political party was forced to join in.

Contrary to situation in Kashmir, she said PDP leaders and workers in Jammu are being coerced to join in the agitation or face the dire consequences.

She observed that since the Congress has seemingly joined the BJP in Jammu agitation, it was up to the Congress and the BJP top ranks to rein in their people in order to ensure that the gains of peace process in Kashmir do not slip away.

UNI BAS BDP BST1855