By IRNA,
Srinagar, India : Pro-India Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has expressed dismay over the blatant double-standards being demonstrated by the law enforcing agencies in dealing with the protesters in Kashmir valley and Jammu district of the state.
In a statement Mehbooba Mufti said, “ironically, the instruments of the State have failed to show the same tolerance and restrain in Kashmir as was done in Jammu”. “While the protesters, indulging in arson, looting and communal attacks in Jammu are dealt with enormous caution, bullets are brutally being showered on peaceful and unarmed protesters in Kashmir,” she said and asked the Government of India to rein in the elements resorting to suppressive measures in the Valley.
Strongly condemning the killing of unarmed protesters by the law enforcing agencies across the Valley since last night, Mehbooba, who represents south Kashmir in Indian Parliament, said the rein of terror let loose by the State authorities against the hapless Kashmiris is patent violation of the civilized and democratic conduct.
Mehbooba Mufti said the repressive measures against Kashmiris have neither worked in the past nor will such inconsiderate actions help in defusing the present crisis. “It seems that some vested interests, both within and outside the administration, want the vicious cycle of violence to continue in the Valley, as they are continuously adding fuel to the fire by spraying bullets on the peaceful protesters,” she said and warned that the situation could go out of control if bold political initiatives are not taken immediately to defuse the crisis.
Condemning the crackdown and arrest of the Hurriyat Conference and JKLF leadership, some of them ailing, Ms Mufti said it is an irony that instead of trying to resolve the issue with them through a process of dialogue, the Government is again resorting to strong-arm nd fire fighting tactics to tide over the crisis. She said the Government of India must renew, with fresh resolve and a sense of urgency, the peace and resolution process through a purposeful dialogue with all sections of the society, including the Kashmir Coordination Committee to find an amicable solution of the Kashmir problem. PDP also condemned the arbitrary curbs imposed by the administration on the Srinagar based electronic and print media.
A PDP spokesman said after banning the telecast of the local news channels, the Government has also gagged the Kashmir-based newspapers by disallowing their publication for the past couple of days.
“Ironically, even the curfew passes issued to the local journalists are treated with contempt by the law enforcing agencies discouraging the media fraternity from performing their processional duties,” he said and added that the double-standards of the administration in dealing with the situation in the two regions of the State have not even spared the media here.
Meanwhile another senior pro-India leader today shot an SOS to the authorities urging them to act urgently as Kashmir valley was facing grave crisis with food stocks running out and children starving for want of milk due to the curfew which was clamped on the Valley three days back and continues without any break.
Drawing the attention of the State Government towards the sufferings of the people, particularly the children, the sick, old and the infirm and daily wage earners due to continuous round the clock curfew imposed without any advance announcement since Sunday midnight, M Y Tarigami, State Secretary of the CPI (M) said, “Children are starving for want of milk and the sick and indisposed cant get any medicines posing danger to their lives.”