People's Democracy

J&K CPI(M) For Easy Travel Across LoC

THROUGH a statement issued from Srinagar by its secretary M Y Tarigami on October 23, the CPI(M)’s Jammu and Kashmir state committee has said the natural disaster that struck Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and its administered Kashmir on October 8 has thrown life in the affected areas entirely out of gear. Besides the loss of thousands of precious human lives, millions have been rendered shelterless, injured and isolated. The natural disaster has struck across the natural boundaries or dividing lines. The shared devastation thus needs a shared response.

What is gratifying is that the governments of India and Pakistan have recognised this reality. In this context, the CPI(M) said, the move by the two countries to facilitate easy travel across the line of control (LoC) deserves to be welcomed, as a large number of divided families, grievously affected by the quake, would require aid, assistance and encouragement at the hands of their kith and kin living across the political divide. The party has expressed hope that the two countries will evolve mutually agreed suitable procedures to translate this move into action without delay.

It merits a mention here that, on October 9, just 24 hours after the quake struck, the CPI(M) state committee had demanded establishment of telecommunication links between the two parts of  Kashmir and  extension of mobile telephone services.

The CPI(M) demands easy and immediate passage to the divided Kashmiris through a credible mechanism and believes that facilitating the travel would lead to greater movement across the LoC for relief and reconstruction work, to closer people to people contacts and to the establishment of more crossing points besides the existing Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road.

The state committee of the CPI(M) understands that these measures are actuated by humanitarian considerations, and would can go a long way in providing solace to the divided families that have been grievously affected and who would want to help one another at this hour of grief and tragedy.

The state committee of the CPI(M) has expressed its deep concern over the reports pouring from Uri and Tangdar that the relief material meant for quake victims is being diverted to wrong channels, thus prolonging the miseries of the really deserving people. The party reiterated its stand that the process of disbursement of relief must be based on transparency and accountability.

The CPI(M) has also demanded that immediate measures need to be taken to streamline, organise and coordinate the task of relief disbursement so as to create confidence and credibility among the suffering people. (INN)