NC asks central govt to initiate talks on crisis in Kashmir valley
› New Delhi is irresolute about the gravity of situation in Kashmir and if the current phenomenon persists, it can turn dangerous
ALI MOHAMMAD SAGAR, NC leader
› A timebound investigation is needed in the Kulgam civilian killings and justice must be accorded to the victims
ABDUL RAHMAN VEERI, PDP leader
SRINAGAR: The National Conference (NC) Monday asked the Centre to “see the writing on the wall” and initiate a time-bound inclusive political process, saying the solution to Kashmir lies only in dialogue.
“NC is of the firm belief that the solution to Kashmir lies only in dialogue. We will make every possible effort to get the state out of the morass of uncertainty and chaos,” NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said after meeting senior party functionaries at the NC headquarters at Nawa-e Subah here.
Seven civilians were killed Sunday in a blast at an encounter site in Laroo village in Kulgam district, after the gunfight with security forces in which three militants were also eliminated, had ended.
On the death of civilians in Kulgam, the NC leader said, “What happened in Kulgam has shaken us to the core and I am sure all the right thinking people in the country have cer- tainly expressed regret over the barbaric killing of seven youth there.”
Sagar said New Delhi has been “serving catchphrases and slogans as conciliation” but the current situation demands sincere conciliatory process.
“New Delhi is irresolute about the gravity of situation and if the current phenomenon of uncertainty persists, it can morph in a much dire situation,” he said.
Expressing anguish over the loss of lives, Sagar said civilians come in line of fire everyday and add to the severity of the situation.
“I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the mayhem that was unleashed at Kulgam the other day. I also pray to almighty for the speedy recovery of those who were injured. In this hour of grief, our party stands in unison with the distressed families,” he said.
The NC general secretary said it was expected that the incumbent administration would embalm the people and lessen their woes by making amends to whatever bad was done in the former PDP-BJP coalition government.
“The iron fist strategy won’t yield anything. It will push (the) already aggravated youth to wall. Central government should view writing on the wall and initiate a time-bound inclusive political process,” he said.
PDP DEMANDS PROBE
The PDP on Monday demanded an impartial probe into the death of civilians in a blast at an encounter site in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Condemning the incident, PDP vice president Abdul Rahman Veeri said, “A time-bound investigation is needed in the incident and justice must be accorded to the victims.” Three militants were killed on Sunday in an encounter with security forces in Laroo village, while seven civilians lost their lives in a blast following the gunfight there, officials said.
The officials said immediately after the gunfight ended and the forces withdrew from the spot, civilians rushed to the encounter site where an explosive substance went off resulting in death of several civilians.
In a statement issued here, the PDP leader urged the central government to initiate a dialogue and reconciliation process so that further loss of precious lives in the state is stopped and peaceful atmosphere is created in which all sections of society could feel safe and secure.