SrinagarThe Concerned Citizens Group led by former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha still believes dialogue is the only way forward in Kashmir and issues like Kashmir cannot be resolved by arrests and harsh methods.
The group which will be undertaking yet another visit of Srinagar early next month to push for dialogue and update itself with the prevailing situation in the Kashmir valley, however admits that its efforts have borne little fruit as Govt of India has yet to respond to their recommendations.
We are arriving in Kashmir early next month. The dates are yet to be fixed, Wajahat Habibullah, one of the members of the Group was quoted as saying.
Reacting to the arrest of seven Hurriyat leaders, Habibullah, who has served on various crucial positions at the Centre, said, Issues like Kashmir cannot be resolved by arrests and harsh methods. Nobody should think that such an approach (Arrest of Hurriyat leaders) will resolve the issue, he said.
The aim of the visit, he said is to get updates and suggestions about the situation and discuss the roadmap ahead. And bring it to the notice of the Centre, State governments and people of the country to hold dialogue for resolving Kashmir issue, Habibullah, the retired IAS officer and former Chairman Minorities Commission, said.
Led by former BJP minister Yashwant Sinha, the group also included Kapil Kak AVM (R), Bharat Bhushan senior journalist and Sushobha Barve Programme Director of Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation as its members and it had visited Kashmir from 25-27 October last year amid agitation.
The Group had last year visited the valley amid four-month long uprising and civilian killings to assess the situation and insist on the BJP-led government in New Delhi to hold dialogue with Hurriyat and other stakeholders in the state for political resolution of the issue.
Asked what the outcome of their Groups report was, Habibullah said that there was no response from Government of India, though we as citizens of the country played our role and showed our responsibility towards the country and its people. People in the country should ask the Government.
It is the question of the country standing upto its responsibility. We treat Kashmir as of India and people need to know why and how things are happening here, he said.
On NIA arresting the Hurriyat members on different charges, he said that such things are not solution to the issue of Kashmir.
Dialogue is a different approach. Legal ways are alright but issues like Kashmir cannot be resolved by arrests and harsh methods. Nobody should think that such an approach will resolve the issue, he said.
Seven Hurriyat members have been arrested by NIA on charges of hawala money and inciting people to protests in Kashmir.
Those arrested by NIA included Nayeem Khan, Altaf Ahmed Shah alias Fantoosh, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Peer Saifullah, Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid ul Islam, Ayaz Akbar Khanday and Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate. (KNS)
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