Initiate purposeful dialogue without delay: PDP to Centre

Srinagar, Aug 17 (UNI) Demanding an impartial probe to book the culprits responsible for extreme use of force, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today urged the Centre to reach out and engage all sections of the society, including the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issue without any further delay.

The PDP expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of human lives during the recent protests across Jammu and Kashmir and called upon the Centre to renew, with fresh resolve and a sense of urgency, the peace and resolution process through a purposeful dialogue with all sections of the society and the Hurriyat Conference.

Resolution adopted at a meeting of the PDP's Political Affairs Committee (PAC), here today, while expressing deepest sympathies with the families of the unarmed protesters, who fell to the bullets of the law enforcing agencies, demanded an impartial probe to bring the culprits, responsible for extreme use of force, to book.

''Although the terrible loss of lives could never be compensated, but the government must immediately release ex-gratia to the families of the deceased and those injured during the protests,'' the resolution demanded.

It also said any damage to properties including homes, shops, vehicles and other business establishments must also be compensated adequately.

Regarding the prevailing situation in the State, the resolution, while expressing distress over the excessive use of force against the protesters said the killing of unarmed civilians and ransacking of properties could not be justified and almost similar circumstances had led to eruption of turmoil in early 1990's.

''While the public outrage over so many killings and brutal use of force is justified, it is ultimately the people of the State, who suffer the most from violence and destruction,'' the resolution said, adding the Government must reinforce its resolve to work through peaceful means and through public participation towards restoration of peace in the State.

''The Centre must, without any further delay, reach out and engage all sections of the society including the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference in a productive dialogue process to resolve the issues,'' the PDP added.

The meeting observed that a critical situation had arisen in the State. ''All of us must sink the differences and respond to it beyond the party politics,'' the PDP added.

''The Centre must with political courage revive the peace initiative launched by then prime minister Atal Behari Vapayee and carried forward by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and which had worked well till 2005 to the satisfaction of all sections of the society.'' Stressing the urgency of lifting the economic blockade of Kashmir, the resolution called for immediate measures to tide over the acute scarcity of life saving drugs, petroleum products and other essential commodities in the Valley and some parts of Jammu region.

''Speedy measures must also be taken to ensure safe and speedy carriage of fruit and other exportable commodities from the Kashmir valley to the markets outside, through the existing and all the traditional cross-LoC routes including the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road,'' the party said.

Presided over by PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the PAC meeting was attended by the Party president Mehbooba Mufti, Abdul Aziz Zargar, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Tariq Hameed Karra, Mohammad Dillawar Mir, Ved Mahajan, Master Tassaduq Hussain, Abdul Rehamn Veeri, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Sayed Altaf Bukhari and Peerzada Mansoor Hussain.

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