‘Stop random arrests youth without proof and valid reasons’
Senior CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today said although visit of All Party Delegation (APD) was a late initiative, nothing has come to the fore regarding the deliberations held with union Home Ministry and the recommendations put forth by the parliamentarians of the group.
Addressing a press conference, he said the stand-still caused has upscaled the disillusionment and alienation among the people of the state.
“Everything has been kept in-camera making the approach of the government in tackling the Kashmir issue questionable,” he said.
Tarigami said the delay tactics seemingly adopted by the government in initiating a credible and comprehensive dialogue with the stake-holders amounts to disservice to the people and having dangerous implications.
“It is a presumption that as if government of India is left with the sole option of using excessive forces to pacify the unrest and trying to put the issue under carpet which is not in the interest of anyone. Union government has shown no signs of changing its approach in tackling the situation in the valley and banning the lethal pellet guns,” he said.
Calling for a purposeful and logical dialogue, he demanded constitution of a committee of parliamentarians across the political spectrum assisted with experts and mandated with an initiation of serious and unconditional political dialogue for resolution of Kashmir issue.
He said both central and state governments are under an obligation to take urgent steps for building shattered confidence by immediately stopping indiscriminate arrests and slapping of Public Safety Act (PSA) on the youth.
“The cases of detained youth need to be reviewed as random arrests are being made and the draconian PSA slapped without substantive and valid reasons. Time bound judicial probes must be conducted in all incidents in which innocent lives were lost and banning of pellet guns must be ensured,” he said.
He demanded an adequate compensation must be paid to the families having suffered loss of lives and rehabilitation of maimed, blinded and injured must be taken in hand.
Withdrawal of DDA and AFSPA from civilian areas is also imperative for restoring the confidence of the people, he added.
(PTK)