Monday 9th Sep, 2024
Srinagar, May 7: Asserting that less participation of people in the Lok Sabha election warrants introspection from political leadership, senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami alleged that indiscriminate arrests of youths across the valley, particularly in south Kashmir, in the recent times will erode people’s trust in the government further.
“As the response of people in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections was not so encouraging in south Kashmir, it warrants introspection from the political leaders, particularly from those who are at the helm of affairs in Delhi. Muscular security policy has neither worked in the past not there are any chances of it yielding any results in future. It has only added the complexities of the situation,” Mr Tarigami said in a statement issued here.
He said such policy is a disservice not only to the people of Jammu and Kashmir but for the whole country if political leadership refuses to draw lessons from this unfortunate experience. “The deepening political uncertainty in Kashmir has got compounded due to the disastrous policies of the BJP government in Delhi. Kashmir is in constant chaos and the new realities are being sketched under the shadow of guns and the BJP’s aggressive Kashmir policy,” he said.
“The Centre’s policy of viewing everything through the prism of security and with rabid ultra nationalistic overtones has compounded the problem further. Security-oriented approach overtaking the political outreach will end up being a loss for the people of Kashmir and to the country as a whole. What is urgently required is to shun the path of confrontation and repression and initiative a credible process of talks with all stakeholders,” he added.
Mr Tarigami said the current unrest is the result of deep and massive alienation caused by long history of broken commitments, repression, socio-economic woes and denial of justice to the people. “It has resulted in hopelessness, despondency and loss of confidence in the political leadership. The fact of the matter is that youth feel dejected, disillusioned and are angry. Repressive measures are bound to prove counterproductive,” he said.
“Hundreds of people, especially youth, are languishing in jails and have been detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). In some cases even after court’s quashing the PSA, detained remain in prison as the police book them under the UAPA. This UAPA is being highly misused and it needs immediate review. The cases of those who have been detained under the PSA and UAPA need to be examined immediately,” he alleged.
About three per cent polling was recorded in twin south Kashmir districts of Pulwama and Shopian in third and final phase of voting in Anantnag Parliamentary constituency, where several youth and security force personnel, including a police officer were injured, during violent clashes throughout the day.
Pampore Assembly segment recorded the highest polling of 5.26 per cent, while lowest percentage of 0.76 per cent was recorded in Pulwama segment.
Meanwhile, 8.76 per cent was the voter turnout for all three phases, combined in Anantnag Parliamentary constituency. Anantnag is the only constituency in the country, where polling was held in three phases, for security reasons.
Polling in first two phases of Anantnag constituency in Anantnag and Kulgam were held on April 23 and 29, respectively. Anantnag recorded 13.59 per cent polling, while Kulgam registered 10.35 per cent polling.
UNI