Srinagar, Feb 18: The government is likely to face stiff opposition during the upcoming budget session in the assembly as the Peoples Democratic Party has threatened to stage protests against the ‘increasing’ human rights violations in the state.
Talking to reporters at the party headquarters here today, PDP general secretary Muhammad Dilawar Mir said despite government’s claims of zero tolerance to human rights violations the cases of rights violations were losing count in the Valley.
“We will stage protests in the assembly when the session begins next week. Our legislative members would sit and also discuss if the party would stage walk out on the issue,” Mir told reporters.
The former minister said that more than nine civilians were killed in a month by police and paramilitary forces. “The government has no control on the situation. It has failed on all fronts,” he said.
Mir said it was ironical that on one hand government was promising amnesty and rehabilitation to the Kashmiri youth in Pakistan administered Kashmir and on the other Kashmiri youth were being booked under Public Safety Act. “Issues like these are minor CBMs; government should urge India to take up Kashmir issue in the upcoming foreign secretary level talks between India and Pakistan.”
Mir said that the youth were disenchanted with the government and were coming out on streets and pelting stones to give vent to their frustration.
“There is no power available anywhere… there is shortage of ration; prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed; corruption in rampant. What the government is doing?” he questioned.
Mir questioned chief minister Omar Abdullah’s statement wherein he had thanked union Home Minister for helping the arrest of the BSF man involved in Nishat teenager’s killing. “He (CM) should know that law and order of state comes under him and not under Union Home Minister.”
He condemned the use of force against the party leaders, workers and activists who were staging protests against the HR violations in south Kashmir districts of Islamabad and Pulwama. He said police used brute force against the peaceful protesters and also arrested five legislators including Peer Muhammad Hussain, Nizam-ud-din Khatana, A R Veeri, Syed Mansoor and Rafi Mir.
He informed that eight party activists were also injured in police action and were shifted to hospitals.
He refuted allegations that it was opposed to the return of Kashmiri youth from PaK.
     “We have not opposed the return of the youth who had crossed over to PaK which is part of the state. They are our children. They had adopted a wrong path and should be provided safe passage and rehabilitated”, Mir said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST