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Prakash Karat DNA
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Favouring maximum autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, CPI-M today asked the Central government to initiate unconditional dialogue with all sections in the state to resolve the Kashmir issue and described as unfortunate the "failure" of UPA-II to pursue the path.
"We urge the Centre to initiate political dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir. Avoiding the issue will not resolve the problem. What is required is initiating a sustained political dialogue with all sections in the state to eventually reach a political settlement," CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here.
It should be an open dialogue, he said, adding, "The way forward is by recognising the special status of the state and the need to assure the people of their identity. These require a new political framework in which the bedrock is maximum autonomy."
About the preconditions laid by separatists for talks and the oft repeated statements of the Centre regarding settlement within the Constitution, he said, "The question of Kashmir concerns Kashmiris, concerns India and concerns Pakistan."
To a question, he said, "My reply is dialogue should be without preconditions. We have asked the government of India to talk to them (people of the state) without preconditions."
He also suggested the Centre to pursue the confidence building measures with Pakistan which can widen the canvas of ties and relations across the Line of Control.
Karat, who met people from various walks of life, members of his party and the CPI to hear their views about the serious situation prevailing in Kashmir, said, "It is unfortunate that the UPA-II government has totally failed to pursue this path."
Terming the situation in Kashmir as extremely serious, Karat said the Central government should stop treating the problem there as a law and order issue which can be resolved through administrative measures.
He said the government should amend Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to remove certain "draconian" provisions.
"Till then, the Act should be withdrawn from Srinagar and certain other civilian areas given the significant decrease in militant activities. This will make the use of the AFSPA redundant in these areas," he said.
Referring to the current spell of unrest in the Valley, he said, "There has to be an immediate end to these brutal and inhuman police firings. There has to be a strict 'no firing policy' to face stone throwing crowds."
Expressing shock over the death of 62 young boys and girls in the past few weeks in police firing, Karat said, "There can be no justification whatsoever for these needless deaths when the protesting youth were only resorting to stone throwing."
He conveyed sympathy to the members of the bereaved families and announced Rs 5 lakh from the party's fund to meet the cost of treatment of those in hospitals.
He demanded adequate compensation to those injured in the police actions and rehabilitation for those rendered permanently disabled.
"In order to help restore normalcy, the administration should release all juveniles detained and lodged in prisons," he said appealing to the people, especially youth, to pursue their protest through peaceful means.
On the prime minister's assurance about zero tolerance for human rights violations, Karat said the promise should be implemented and "action taken against the guilty in the Pathribal incident and the recent Machil fake encounter case."
He also favoured generation of employment for the youth of Kashmir. "This must be accompanied by rehabilitation of thousands of former militants who need jobs and other
assistance," he said.
Regarding the economic losses suffered due to curfew and strikes for the past two months, he said the government has to
compensate and revive trade and other other activities of
different sections of the people.
"Similarly, the disruption of education of children due to closure of schools and other institutions should be addressed," he said.
Karat said the CPI(M) will discuss in its next central committee meeting the Kashmir problem in depth.
Karat accused the Centre of being more interested in the passage of the nuclear liability bill than paying attention to the serious situation in Kashmir.
"Top priority for the government is somehow to pass the nuclear liability bill brought in Parliament at the behest of America," he said.
He said the UPA government is interested in the passage of the bill ahead of US president Barack Obama visit to India later this year.
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