Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 30: Former Chief Minister and PDP Patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has alleged that killings of two innocent youth at Markundal in Sumbal has once again exposed the Omar led Government and sorry state of affairs prevailing in the State.
Addressing a party workers convention at Yaripora in Kulgam today, Mufti said that the ‘firmans’ like the one that require permits for locals to visit Pahalgam and Sonamarg only deepens alienation and reinforce feelings of disempowerment. Describing the firing of security forces as unwarranted the PDP leader condemned the incident. He said the present dispensation has no control on its forces.
The PDP leader alleged that on the one hand people of the State were going out of their way to give democratic process a chance but on the other hand more wounds were caused to them by agencies of the State. He said the State was presenting a picture of lawlessness where everybody, whether an unknown gunman or a security personnel entrusted with the duty of protecting lives can get away with atrocities. PDP is of the view that security forces have to be relocated from the civilian areas in Valley and the process of gradual demilitarization should start.
Mufti Sayeed further said that as long as justice eludes the aggrieved people, the impression of peace and calm will remain deceptive and fragile. “It seems the rights enshrined in the constitution of the country remain restricted beyond the borders of the State and our fight will continue till the people of J&K receive justice and fair deal”, Mufti maintained.
While expressing solidarity with the bereaved families of Irfan and Irshad, the two youth who lost their lives in today’s incident Mufti said the tragedy has devastated two more families and no words can compensate their loss. He said the PDP has for many years been struggling for revoking laws that provide immunity to personnel responsible for such avoidable violence.
Referring to dictat that anyone wanting to visit Pahalgam or Sonamarg should carry a permit, Mufti said even the British did not practice such apartheid. He said such fooling ‘firmans’only expose the deep insecurity of the present rulers.
Senior party leaders Abdul Gaffar Sofi, Abdul Majid Padder, Nazir Ahmed Laway, Manzoor Ahmed Zargar, Ghulam Hassan Sofi, Sheraz Bhat and Dr R K Pardesi also spoke on the occasion.