Kupwara, Sept 7: The Peoples Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti, on Monday rejected the chief minister, Omar Abdullah’s contention that withdrawal of troops from civilian areas would have to wait “till an unspecified date in future.”
“The situation in the state is almost normal now except for incidents triggered by the government and the security forces, while people have reposed a renewed trust in democratic system which needs to be responded to with matching trust from the state.”
“It is the people who are the best guarantors of peace and security and government forces are only expected to create an enabling environment for the civil society to operate freely,” she said addressing party convention here.
“The men in uniform after having completed their duty in civilian areas will have to go back to barracks like any disciplined force and the time for that is now,” she added.
Accusing the government of using political dissent as an alibi for continuing with overwhelming militarization of the state, she said this coupled with indiscriminate invocation of laws like AFPSA and PSA could only breed cynicism once again that was primarily responsible for the trouble in Kashmir.
Mehbooba demanded that government of India should pay at least 50 per cent of the royalty adding up to Rs 72,000 crore to Jammu and Kashmir for sharing its water resources with Pakistan.
“Waters of Jehlum, Indus and Chenab are shared with Pakistan through anti-Kashmir treaties and people here are not allowed to use it for irrigation and generation of electricity. This royalty can be used for the state’s development,” she said.
She alleged in 1996, National Conference didn’t allow different companies to provide mobile phone facilities to Kashmiris saying cell phones would reach militants. “It was Mufti Sahib who brought the mobile phones to Kashmir,” she added.
“Self rule will prove solace for mothers who have lost their sons when they will be allowed to visit other side of the Kashmir without any hassle. Troops will vacate the 28 lakh kanals of land occupied illegally, when people will see complete end to harassment at the hands of troops under the shade of special powers bestowed upon security forces. Troops will leave the localities and civilian habitations,” she claimed.
She said the government turned a blind eye to the protests particularly from Kupwara and shelved the legislation even after it had been approved by the joint select committee.
Mehbooba said border and backward areas like Kupwara had the highest stakes in peace and that was evident from the process started in 2002.
She said the area having suffered the worst kind of miseries all through the strife since 1990 witnessed a profound relief that revived sense of dignity and security to an extent paving way for considerable development activity there.
Referring to the mounting problems faced by the people, Mehbooba said food crisis had hit everybody hard and the poorer sections of society were the worst hit. She said the government had mismanaged the public distribution system to the extent that the department concerned was now identified with scandal, scarcity and crisis more than being a utility service, which is sharp contrast to its traditional and assigned role.
Mehbooba said the long dry spell in the state had created a drought like situation in most areas of Kupwara as well.
Addressing the meeting, general secretary Muhammad Dilawar Mir and senior leader Tariq Hamid Qarra dwelt in detail on various components of the Self Rule.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Sep 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Sep 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:00 IST