KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Commenting over the prevailing unrest in Valley, Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) President and MLA Khan Sahib Hakim Mohammad Yasin Thursday said that it seems government was “not interested” in restoring peace in Kashmir.
In a statement issued to press this afternoon, Hakim Yasin said, “if separatist leaders were released from jails why were they bared to meet each other on Wednesday? It was a blunder by the government and contrary to its claims of making situation conducive for initiating a peaceful dialogue with all stakeholders.”
Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik were not allowed to hold a joint meet on WEdnesday by government at Hyderpora residence-cum-office of Geelani. Geelani is under continuous house detention since 2010 while as Malik was released from jail on Oct 29, 2016 after 113 days of detention. Mirwaiz has been put under house arrest after serving detention in sub-jail Chasma Shahi for almost two months since August 26, 2016.
The PDF chief accused the government of having “mismatch” between its words and the deeds. “On the one hand the government claims that it is committed to restore peace in the Valley for initiating a peaceful dialogue but on the other it is using brute force to suppress the people,” he said.
The MLA Khan Sahib also questioned the government about the follow-up of Yashwant Sinha led delegation’s recent visit to Kashmir.
“According to media reports, the delegation had been sent to the Valley under the instructions of the Center (Delhi). If it is true what has been the outcome of the visit. There has been no reaction from the government so far,” he said. “Separatists have reportedly put forward some conditions for initiating a dialogue. But unfortunately, there is no response from the government side.”
He said that both Union and state governments have maintained silence over the prevailing situation in Kashmir which is unfortunate. “For the past almost four months there is a logjam in Kashmir and people are on streets. Instead of seeing what has forced the people to come on streets, the government is using brute forces to quell them. In democracy everybody has right to put forth his point of view, but unfortunately the incumbent government only believes using force,” he said.
Hakim Yasin also criticized the government for disallowing prayers in Jamia Masjid for the last almost four-months. “Such situation had not happened in Kashmir even during the Maharaja Hari Singh’s rule. Kashmiris are feeling more alienated because of the wrong policies of the present government,” he said.
The PDF chief also called for de-escalation of tension between India and Pakistan at the borders saying continued border tension has resulted in killings and destruction as well as large scale displacement of population living near the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB).
“India and Pakistan leadership should respect the 2003-ceasefire agreement and stop sacrificing the innocent people on both sides for their narrow domestic political considerations. Kashmiris become the biggest victims of the Indo-Pak hostilities,” he added.
