By TwoCircles.netdesk
A US based group Indian Muslim Council (IMC-USA) has strongly condemned the blockade of Kashmir Valley by the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsha Samiti. The economic blockade of the Valley has caused havoc and untold suffering to the civilian population of Kashmir.
IMC-USA, an advocacy group has expressed apprehensions at the fact that the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti has vowed to extend its strike “chakka jam” till August 31st. The Samiti has launched protest strikes since early August forcibly shutting down schools, shops, businesses and public transportation throughout the region creating an economic blockade on Kashmir Valley.
The council has also condemned the firing by police and armed forces on unarmed civilians. At least 35 people are reported to be killed and hundreds more have been wounded in weeks of protests across the state.
It has pointed out that by not taking immediate and stern action against the illegal blockade by the Hindu nationalist organizations of the only highway into the Kashmir valley, the government has fueled the separatist sentiments and is alienating the people of Kashmir.
Expressing dismay at the mishandling of the land transfer by the government authorities the US based advocacy group has said that maintaining security and peace is the responsibility of the government in which it has failed so far. This failure of government will play into the hands of the extremists making conditions more tenuous.
So the Council has demanded that the government do not allow the extremists to fan the communal sentiments in Kashmir and the rest of the country.
It has further appealed to all sides to work towards restoring peace and to resolve the current land row by negotiating an amicable solution.
It has demanded from the central government should immediately remove the economic blockade and restore normal conditions in the Valley and appropriate compensation should also be made to the families of the civilians killed in the firing by police and armed forces.
Indian Muslim Council-USA is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 10 chapters across the nation.