KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti on Monday sought cooperation of the people in restoration of peace and normalcy in Kashmir to prevent further loss of precious lives and destruction of public and private properties. She said various measures to restore calm are being taken that requires peoples’ support.
“I appeal all sections of the society including the political leaders, media, the religious heads, the business community and the prominent citizens to rise to the occasion and help the government in restoring peace and normalcy,” Ms Mufti said during her around two hours long interaction with the representatives of various civil society groups and prominent citizens at her Private Office.
Ms Mufti said police and paramilitary forces have been asked to exercise maximum restrain to avoid loss of lives or grievous injuries.
“My heart goes out to the families of the youth, including civilians and policemen, who lost their lives in the latest spate of violence,” she said. “We have already lost a generation to bloodshed and violence, and can’t afford to live amidst prevailing political uncertainties with young boys getting killed every day.”
Ms Mufti said some elements are hell bent upon fomenting trouble, mayhem and bloodshed in Kashmir for their vested interests and are playing with the lives of the innocent youth by instigating them to indulge in extreme violence resulting in a vicious cycle of frenzy and bloodshed.
“Ironically, it is only the parents and other immediate family members of these ill-fated youth who have to live with the life-long trauma of losing their near and dear ones to this senseless violence,” Ms Mufti said, insisting that certain quarters are only interested in playing politics over the dead bodies. “Most of these families (who have earlier lost their members) are living in such miserable conditions that they have to even struggle for day-to-day living.” She said the people with vested interests desert these families later.
Chief Minister said she is working to ensure that the families who were impacted by the violence live a dignified life. “We will try to work out a mechanism to ensure a secure and dignified living for the kith and kin of the victims of violence so that their families don’t have to run from pillar to post to live a normal life,” Ms Mufti said.
Chief Minister said education and economy are the first casualty of the prevailing situation. “Our children are at stake and they won’t be able to compete with their counterparts from other parts of the State and the country because of the loss of precious time,” Chief Minister said. She appealed parents not to allow anybody to play with the future of their children.
Ms Mufti said the deteriorating law and order situation has also set a huge blow to the local economy which had just started picking up the threads with the encouraging tourist arrivals.
“The development process has also been hit and it will take some time to get the things back on rails,” she said and added that peace is, however, imperative to put the things in place once again.
Chief Minister said imposing restrictions in prevailing circumstances has become an inevitability to avoid violent protests and consequent loss of precious human lives. “We prefer imposing restrictions rather than putting the lives of people at risk,” she said.
“They (youth) are angry and I can understand their anger. We are looking forward to a better future for them by exploring ways and means of providing them productive employment,” Ms Mufti said.
She said the problem of unemployment has critical dimensions in J&K as it has the potential of impeding the peace process if not seriously and urgently addressed.
“The Government recognizes that there is a need to increase the economic space of the State, enhance its resource base and generate greater capacity of economy in various key sectors to meet the challenge of unemployment,” Ms Mufti said. “Tangible measures would be taken to address the concerns of the youth on account of unemployment.”
Ms Mufti said the ministers and other government functionaries have been asked to reach out to the people and work with the local civil society groups for speedy restoration of peace and normalcy. Ministers will remain stationed at the district headquarters to monitor the situation and reach out to the people.
“They (Ministers) will also monitor the day to day situation personally and initiate measures for return of tranquilly in the respective areas in consultation with the local civil society groups and prominent citizens,” Ms Mufti said.
“I salute the people of Kashmir for upholding the highest traditions of communal harmony and hospitality in the prevailing situation,” ms Mufti said while hailing the people of the state for extending hospitality and all kinds help to the Amarnath Yatris and tourists, despite facing various hardships themselves.
Those who interacted with Chief Minister included Mohammad Yasin Khan, Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Bashir Ahmad Matta and Sheikh Yousuf, Omar Tramboo, Rauf Tramboo, Ghulam Hassan Parra and representatives of various travel bodies.
