By IANS
Chandigarh: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday demanded the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Jammu and Kashmir, calling the situation there “very grim”.
“The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is very grim and it is deteriorating with each passing day. So far 67 people have lost their lives, a majority of whom below 25 years. It is not the right way to answer stones with bullets,” CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here.
Noting that the government had imposed the Disturbed Areas Act in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, he said: “We want the government to lift these acts from peaceful areas and from those places that have started moving towards normalcy.”
Karat said the government’s approach was “totally wrong” and they had failed to solve the crisis situation of the valley.
Referring to the cabinet meeting to discuss the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, he said: “We want them to release an encouraging rehabilitation package for the victims (of the firing by security forces).”
On the issue of free distribution of surplus foodgrains, he said states like Orissa, Bihar and West Bengal were facing a drought-like situation.
“We want the Food Corp of India to follow the directions of the Supreme Court and start distributing surplus foodgrains, free of cost, to the people of such states.
“We should all respect the spirit of this judgement. If rats of our country can get free food grains to eat, why not the people of India?” he asked.
Karat accused the Trinamool Congress of supporting Maoists in Left-ruled West Bengal.
“Maoists are particularly targeting the workers of CPI-M in West Bengal. We condemn their path of violence. It is very sad that the railway minister (Mamata Banerjee) is providing patronage to them,” he said.