By IANS,
New Delhi : Cautioning against increasing radicalization of youth in the country, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday emphasised that this trend was “not the prerogative of one community”.
Speaking at the National Integration Council meet here, Abdullah said the solution to the problem lay in launching a sustained campaign for the inclusive development of all the communities.
“Democratisation of traditional societies, unleashing the forces of political mobilisation also holds a potential for increasing radicalisation of the youth in the name of religion and caste,” he said.
He said efforts are being made to “manufacture” exclusive community and religion based identities which are different from the rest of the society.
“These radicalised elements regrettably, make it appear that either you are with them or with the enemy. This growing extremism, however, is not the prerogative of one community alone,” Abdullah said.
It needs to be understood the root cause of communalism is not the presence of many religions in the country.
“It is only when the religious sentiments are exploited with an economic or political motive then the resultant effects give rise to communalism,” he added.
Abdullah said internal security problems are rooted in politics and armed insurgencies are basically struggles for political space.
“It has been realised over a period of time that the world over and within our country itself that issues involving contrary positions can never be resolved through violent agitations and confrontations.
“This being the case, the most obvious approach would be to seek appropriate political solutions for the political problems.
“It goes without saying that a timely political solution to a problem would ensure that it does not balloon into a full fledged law and order or an internal security problem,” he said.
Speaking about his state, Abdullah said, the central government will have to walk the extra mile and find ways and means to remain engaged with Pakistan to address the external dimensions of the problems of the state.
He also said even though economic development is important, it cannot and will not provide a permanent solution to the political issues confronting the state.
The chief minister said it is even more important to realise that political discussions are inescapable, if a lasting and enduring solution has to be found to tackle the internal dimension of problems confronting the state.