People's Democracy

Bold Initiatives Needed on Kashmir Issue: Tarigami

URGING the Indo-Pak leadership to reverse the self-destructive path and take bold initiatives to address the vexed Kashmir issue, secretary of the Jammu & Kashmir state unit of the CPI(M),  Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, MLA, has said that instead of any more dithering and any further drifting, the contending forces must take effective measures to make the dialogue process result oriented. He said that rigidities must be replaced by flexibilities and both the countries must see to it that partisan interests do not complicate the issues further. He cautioned that continued hostilities between the two countries would be dangerous for stability in the subcontinent. So Delhi and Islamabad must make serious efforts to turn a new leaf in their relations, and for this purpose the leadership has to exhibit the will and capacity to move forward.  

Addressing a largely attended public meeting at Ashmuji in Kulgam on May 24, Tarigami said the massive sense of alienation pervading the people of Kashmir must be addressed. We must realise that alienation is not going to go by holding elections only. There has been too much violence coming from different directions and the people are deeply wounded by it. We must have something like a Truth and Reconciliation Commission so that the victims know who the victimiser is and we know who did what and to whom. For this purpose, bold and courageous initiatives are required to be taken. Mere rhetoric will not do. Besides, free and fair political processes, measures like extra-economic investment, jobs to the youth and rebuilding the social institutions are urgently required.   

The CPI(M) leader urged upon the leadership across the line of control (LoC), both mainstream and separatist, to make serious efforts to identify the areas of agreement so as to move forward.  We may have difference of ideologies and political perspectives but we are duty-bound to shoulder the responsibility of finding out a credible mechanism for seeking a solution to the  vexed Kashmir problem.   

Welcoming the proposed visit of the prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh to the state, Tarigami hoped his visit would be more purposeful. “The people of J&K have the right to know the fate of the recommendations of the working groups and the prime minister must take the people into confidence about the measures taken to implement these recommendations,” he said.   

Addressing the rally, J&K Kissan Tehrik general secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik said peasants are the worst sufferers of the price rise and natural calamities. Welcoming the announcement of the government regarding a crop insurance scheme, Malik urged its immediate implementation in view of the losses suffered by the peasants due to the recent rains and hailstorm. He also demanded timely supply of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs to the farmers for the ensuing kharif seasons, besides enhancement of subsidised food grains.    

The rally, which was presided over by kisan leader Mohd Afzal Parrey, was addressed by senior leaders like Abdul Hamid Wani and Mohd Yaqub Ganaie also. (INN)