SRINAGAR: Opposition parties in Kashmir which met here today decided to approach President Pranab Mukherjee to apprise him of the situation in the Valley and demanded a probe by a retired Supreme Court judge into allegations of excessive use of force by security personnel.
“We have decided to seek time from the President to apprise him about the real ground situation in Kashmir.
“We will try to persuade the (Union) government to take steps that will at least help in improving the situation in the Valley,” National Conference working president Omar Abdullah told reporters here after the meeting at his residence.
He said the delegation of opposition parties will go to Delhi to press for a dialogue with all stakeholders and added that blaming Pakistan for everything that goes wrong in Kashmir was not the right approach.
The meeting was attended by several Congress leaders including JKPCC chief G A Mir, CPI(M) MLA from Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Independent MLAs Hakim Mohammad Yasin and Sheikh Abdul Rashid and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir.
Omar said the opposition parties have demanded an inquiry by a retired Supreme Court judge into the allegations of excessive force by security forces while dealing with protestors. They will also seek a special session of the Assembly to discuss the situation.
“Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in her speech on August 15 has herself said that some elements in security forces did not follow her instructions (of exercising maximum restraint).
“So this is an opportune time for a judicial inquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court judge,” he said.
The former chief minister said all the opposition parties were worried about youths getting killed and injured in security forces’ firing, while the state and the central governments “mishandled” the situation.
“We are also worried that the political nature of Jammu and Kashmir has neither been accepted nor understood.
“When it has not been accepted, it is implied that no efforts have been made to find a solution to it,” he said.
Omar said Kashmir is a political issue which needs to be addressed politically.
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