Srinagar, Oct 02: Locking horns with the Governor over his recent statement about the alleged “irrelevance” of political parties and other organizations in Kashmir, CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami Tuesday said it is the systematic denial of justice which fuels unrest here.
Asserting that the political process becoming irrelevant is not a healthy trend but a serious concern, Tarigami said the Governor should have advised the country’s political leadership to introspect why the political process in Kashmir is becoming irrelevant.
“The political parties and political process being irrelevant is the reason for anger building up,” Tarigami said, while adding that the Governor with his vast political experience “will analyse and see how serious the implications for the people of the state and the country will be if political parties and political process becomes irrelevant.
“It is due to this reason that the void created by such situations is filled by extremism and violence,” he said.
The Communist leader said there is need for serious and sincere initiative from political leadership of the country to arrest this trend of making political parties and political process irrelevant.
“But unfortunately, whatever is happening on ground is contrary to it. On ground only security-centric measures are being taken to tackle the situation. Perception is growing that the focus of the policy of New Delhi is only security-centric vis-a-vis Kashmir.
“Governor could have advised the political leadership of the country presently at the helm of affairs to introspect why the political process in Kashmir is becoming irrelevant,” Tarigami said.
He said the prevailing unrest in Kashmir is result of denial of justice and neglect. “The disillusionment, hopelessness and despondency have led the youth to desperation,” Tarigami said.
He said while there is need to study and analyse the root cause of this problem “at the leadership level of the country, but unfortunately over the years, only symptoms are being seen and causes are being ignored.”
He said “our party’s stand has been that it (Kashmir) is not an exclusive law and order issue but a political problem. The alienation is deep and massive. CPI(M) had always been demanding to hold dialogue with voices of dissent in the state.”
The policymakers need to understand it that nothing could be achieved by force and it is only political dialogue which can bring peace, the CPI(M) MLA from Kulgam said.
“Violence will only deteriorate the situation further. The issue could be solved only through a dialogue and the biggest issue in Kashmir is alienation among people. If it isn’t addressed, the political uncertainty will continue,” he warned.
Referring to the spree of “indiscriminate arrests”, Tarigami said “experience confirms that mere use of force and coercion has never helped in resolving issues. The confidence of the youth has been shattered and hopelessness is deepening. It needs to be seen how the confidence of youth is restored.
“Use of excessive force can’t solve it as ways and means other than use of force have to be found,” he suggested.
