‘No sense of security in Valley’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 25: The National Conference said today that this is the right time for the Government of India to consider autonomy resolution passed by the State Legislature and this will be a “serious and meaningful” effort by the Centre to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment that solution to Kashmir problem can be found by embracing Kashmir and not with bullets or abuses.
On second and last day of its Working Committee meeting in Srinagar, chaired by party president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the National Conference adopted five resolutions.
One of the resolutions of the NC WC said: “The National Conference reiterates its stand and commitment to defend and protect Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution of India. The protection and defence of these constitution provisions and restoration of autonomy in J&K is the bedrock of National Conference’s policy and political agenda. This is essential to protect the distinct identity of the State and its people. We believe this is the right time for Government of India to consider the autonomy resolution passed by the State Legislature. This will be a serious and meaningful effort by the Government of India to convert the Independence Day commitment of the Prime Minister that neither bullets nor abuse is the way forward and it is by embracing Kashmiris that the solution to the Kashmir problem will be found”.
Through another resolution, the National Conference said it stands for unity, integrity and special status of Jammu and Kashmir and will continue to strive to defend its secular character.
“We further resolve that National Conference will continue to work in this direction and vehemently defeat the nefarious designs of the forces who are hell- bent on weakening the secular credentials of the State,” it added.
Describing calling of the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan scheduled for this week in New York City as “extremely unfortunate”, the National Conference Working Committee unanimously resolved that India and Pakistan must restart a sustained and uninterrupted dialogue process to find a solution to all disputes including the Kashmir problem.
“We are of the firm opinion that continuation of the dialogue between two countries is the only way available to settle all disputes between two countries and is also in the larger interest of people of the sub-continent,” another party resolution said.
Asserting that after 2014, there has been a marked and worrisome deterioration in the security scenario across the State, the NC Working Committee said sanctity of life in the State, whether it is in the number of educated employed youngsters who have taken up arms or the families of police personnel and civilians who are being targeted, has been greatly eroded.
“The root cause of the alienation and anger that has been visible since 2014 is the opportunistic alliance of the PDP with the BJP. It was a betrayal of the mandate of the people who voted in 2014 Assembly elections,” it said.
The NC Working Committee observed that there is no sense of security on the ground.
“The way in which excessive use of force and human rights violations are being condoned coupled with mass arrest of youngsters, night raids across the State exposes the tall claims of the State and the Central government. In such an atmosphere, civilians and police personnel are being targeted in most gruesome ways. Such incidents of violence against families’ of civilians or police personnel are not only worrisome but put a big question mark over the security apparatus operational in the State,” another party resolution said.
The Working Committee resolved that the Central Government and the Governor’s administration in the State should immediately take steps to restore a sense of security in the State.
“A zero tolerance policy for human rights violations must be reiterated and implemented in letter and spirit. The Standard Operating Procedures that have been put in place must also be implemented without any relaxation,” it said.
The Working Committee expressed deep concern over the sharp rise of the prices of essential commodities especially petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders.
“Needless to say this price hike is placing an unbearable burden on the people. We appeal to the Government to take emergent steps to immediately reverse this trend,” it said.
In the meeting, party vice president Omar Abdullah, Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar, general secretary, Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Nasir Aslam Wani, Devender Singh Rana and senior leaders including special invitees from all corners of the State were present.
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