Take CC into confidence before decision on Amarnath: CPM

Srinagar, Aug 24 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (M) today urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to take into confidence the Coordination Committee (CC), spearheading the agitation in Kashmir, before taking any final decision on Amarnath land issue.

State Secretary CPI(M) Mohammad Yousuf Targami, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and informed him about the prevailing situation in the state, demanded that having discussed the Amarnath land use issue with Sangrash Samiti, the Government should take into confidence the Kashmiri civil society, particularly the Coordination Committee before taking any final decision.

The issue has become bilateral in nature and any unilateral decision will be ''unwarranted'', Mr Tarigami said and urged the State administration to restraint from using force against peaceful demonstrations.

''Peaceful demonstration is a democratic way of expressing grievances and the use of force to muzzle the voices raised, go against the very genesis of democracy.'' he said.

He urged the State Government to direct Law enforcing agencies to restrain from using force against people.

Mr Tarigami demanded adequate compensation to the next of the kin of those killed and those wounded besides adequate relief to fruit growers and others who suffered heavy economic losses because of disruption of traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

He also demanded rehabilitation of families affected by communal riots in different areas of Jammu division.

UNI BAS ARB AS1512