GoI should go for general amnesty in Kashmir
SRINAGAR – Urging Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India to visit Pakistan to break the political stalemate between the two countries, CPI (M) State Secretary M Y Tarigami today said the peace process between the two countries should not be overturned because of domestic compulsions.
Addressing a public gathering at Arreh in South Kashmir, Tarigami observed that time is running out for both India and Pakistan to sincerely change their foreign relations paradigm. For Dr Singh, in the twilight of his political career, the latest invitation from Pakistan president perhaps provides him a chance to be magnanimous and go down in the annals of history as a statesman, not a mere politician, remarked Tarigami.
Reminding Dr Singh of his announcement made last month that he was ready for a visit to Pakistan as the move would prove fruitful, Tarigami said the visit would signal a visible thaw in Pakistan-India relations, which had deteriorated after Mumbai attacks. I earnestly appeal Dr Singh not to get swayed by the domestic political compulsions and visit the neighbouring country to prove to be the fruit of behind-the-scenes diplomatic engagement between the two countries since the attack, he added.
He said dialogue process between India and Pakistan needs impetus but simultaneously there is need to address the internal dimensions of the problem. Dialogue between India and Pakistan will remain inconclusive unless the political aspirations of Kashmiris are included in the same, he said.
Urging New Delhi and Islamabad to give up rigidity vis-à-vis their stated positions on Kashmir and show statesmanship to resolve the problem for the prosperity and peace in the region, Tarigami said besides taking concrete efforts for rapid development across LoC, initiating a meaningful dialogue with the voices of dissent was inevitable for amicable resolution of Kashmir problem.
Tarigami said the role of people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be marginalized and in this regard alienation among the people of the state be addressed with a sincere and lucid talks offer.
Urging Dr Singh to personally intervene and grant General Amnesty for all political prisoners languishing in different jails inside Kashmir and other parts of the country, Tarigami said the move could help in improving the ground situation in Kashmir. Also as a part of confidence building measure, releasing all those prisoners not involved in heinous crimes will help in improving the ground situation in the state, Tarigami remarked.
Lamented that corruption was rampant in J&K Tarigami said there is a close nexus between some politicians in authority and bureaucrats which is eating into the vitals of society. He regretted that the institutions of self-governance which need to be autonomous are still run by bureaucrats. Though the elections under Panchayat quota have been successfully conducted, but need of the hour is to go for Block Development Council elections to fulfill the pre-requisites of Panchayat Raj System in the state. Not only these elections, the government must call an all party meeting of political parties in the state to evolve a consensus on the requisite amendments in the constitution so that these grassroots level institutions of governance are empowered in true spirit, Tarigami demanded.
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