Modi govt’s Kashmir policy unspecified, alleges Yechury

MIR FARHAT

SRINAGAR : Pitching for dialogue with all stakeholders, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said that Narendra Modi led government has failed to "specify" its policy on Kashmir.

CPIM National General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury said if Kashmir has to be made integral part of India then Article 370 erosion has to be restored.

"The eroded provisions of Article 370 have to restored and then only Kashmir will be real ‘atoot aang’ of India," he said, lashing out at BJP government for 'making assault on Constitution."

Yechury said that BJP government at the centre had no “specific” policy on Kashmir issue.

“I was part of the all party delegation led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The Centre accepted that dialogue process will be initialed with all stakeholders but nothing has happened so far,” Yechury said in a press conference here.

“Our stand is clear that talks must be held with all stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir. But the government at the centre is unwilling for talks. If we want to find a solution to this political problem then government has to involve everybody,” Yechury said.

Yechury, who was in Srinagar to chair the 11th State Conference of CPIM, was flanked by CPI (M) State General Secretary and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami.

Yechury said that Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state.

He said that despite making promise to ban use of pellet guns on protesters, the has failed to fulfill its assurance.

"The centre promised use of pellet guns will be stopped in Kashmir and dialogue will be initiated with all stakeholders. The promises have not been fulfilled even after two years,” he said.

The CPI (M) leader also criticized the centre “for not” presenting interlocutors reports before the Parliament. “Atleast these reports should have been discussed in the Parliament,” he said.

He asked the BJP government to unveil its policy towards Pakistan. “There is no clarity about centre’s policy towards Pakistan. Sometimes they (BJP) said composite dialogue will be held with Pakistan, then stop the process and national security adviser talks are held in a third country.”

Yechury said people from both sides get killed due to cross border firing. “It is a grave situation. Lot of people are getting killed. There shall be a clear policy towards Pakistan to find a solution to the problem.”

In Jammu and Kashmir, he said government has failed to provide employment to the educated youth of the Valley. “Development is visible nowhere in India. Muslims and Dalits are being attacked. Private people take law in their hands on the name of Gau Rakshaks and anti-romeo squads. There is interference in the judiciary,” he said, while calling strengthening of “people’s movement for removal of BJP government at the centre."

Addressing the conference, Tarigami said this BJP Government has closed all the doors for Kashmiris.
"When any young Kashmiri boy goes for studies to outside state, he is being dragged out of the hostel and mercilessly beaten. A Kashmiri laborer is afraid of going outside. Till there is cancer of RSS and Sangh Parivar in India, life is hell for minorities, Dalits and Kashmiris. Our request to CPI (M), democratic and secular forces of the country is that if they want to save Kashmir, first India has to be saved from these fascist forces. This poison will spread, and not only will it ruin Kashmir and Jammu, it will spoil the whole country," he said.

He said that young unarmed boys were killed in Shopian and police registered an FIR against the army. "There was a hullaballoo within the establishment across the country, why an FIR was registered against army for killing a Kashmiri," he said.

Referring to RSS chief Mohan Baghwat, Tarigami said Bhagat said Kashmiris only understand the language of power.

'We tell Mohan Bahgwat that Kashmiri will prefer to die, but won’t be cowed by these threats. We accept that gun is not a solution, but let me make it clear to Mohan Baghwat that Kashmiris can’t be treated like cattle. We believe in communal harmony and not today but since centuries. When raiders from Pakistan came to Kashmir in 1947, my Kashmiri Muslim sisters saved Pandit sisters. It is our identity and it is the identity of Lal Ded and Nund Rishi. We are sad that Kashmiri Pandits are not with us."

Appealing people of Jammu, he said that Jammu brothers not to fall prey to these elements who want to divide people in the name of religion and region.

"Who are the people who are trying to shield the rapists and murderers of 8-year-old Asifa of Kathua? It is most shameful act and against the human values that using tricolor, some fringe elements in Jammu took a rally in support of the accused. Two senior BJP ministers participated in this rally. Why is CM Mehbooba ji silent on their participation in the rally? If she could sack Haseeb Drabu sahib, why is she afraid of taking any action against these two ministers?"