Bhubaneshwar, December 29: Terming the current phase of unrest in Kashmir as unprecedented, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has said that the disastrous and failed policies pursued by the BJP Government in New Delhi during the last four and half years were responsible for the current mess in the Valley.
While addressing a series of seminars in Bhubaneshwar, Orrisa, he said during the last four and half years of BJP rule at the Center, its Kashmir policy has been a failure. The current phase of unrest is unprecedented. There was alienation before also, but in the last few years it has depended. The truth is that there is huge alienation, anger and disillusionment among Kashmiris and the reason is that the BJP Government looks at Kashmir only through the prism of security. The core of BJP Govt’s Kashmir policy remains exclusive reliance on repression, use of disproportionate force.
“Continued hate campaigns, harassment of Kashmiri students in certain states is only adding fuel to the fire. The communalisation of politics by the Sangh Parivar has created a situation of mistrust,” he said.
He said, the record of the present regime in Delhi is not only disappointing, it has also added fuel to the fire because of its erroneous policies vis-à-vis Kashmir. In 2014 when Parliament and Assembly elections were held, there was huge participation of people. However, dismal voting percentage was recorded during by-election to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. On one hand Government of India (GoI) boasts that it held Urban Local Bodies and Panchayat elections in the state, but the fact is that the by-election to Parliament constituency of south Kashmir could not be held in two and half years due to the unrest.
During a seminar on “Challenges To Our Composite Culture, Harmony and Parliamentary Democracy” organised by Odisha Jana Chetana Manch, Tarigami said, Sangh-Parivar’s hate camping against minorities and Dalits across country in the name of Gua Raksha and other such issues is one of the reasons responsible for the current unrest in Kashmir. The emergence of the BJP at the national level and greater targeting of the minorities, Dalits, unreasonable, irrational statements against them by those in authority has only added to the already existing uncertainty in Kashmir.
“Despite assurances by New Delhi that it will resume the dialogue, the only approach in the last four-and half years has been maximum use of force. In the last four years around 300 civilians were killed, but no enquiry was held ever, and no one was held accountable,” he said.
He appealed democratic forces in the country to intervene and raise the voice within and outside the Parliament to put an end to this disastrous policy pursued by the BJP-Government.
Tarigami addressed the seminar as chief guest with Janardan Pati, senior CPI (M) leader and Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik besides others spoke on the occasion.
