Srinagar, Apr 27: Questioning Government of India’s policy to handle Kashmir issue, former union minister and Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday said that New Delhi has failed to build trust among Kashmiris.
“Nothing is moving forward on ground. Geelani sahab and Mirwaiz had put forth their conditions for entering into talks with the Government on Kashmir. Let us leave aside declaring Kashmir as disputed territory, New Delhi should have no objection in accepting their other demands. The arrests are still continuing and youth are languishing in jails. There has been no inquiry into the killing of youth (during last summer unrest),” Paswan, who is a Member of Parliament, said in an exclusive chat with Greater Kashmir.
The need of the hour, Paswan said, was to engage Kashmiris. “It had to be looked into why they (Kashmiris) don’t trust Government of India and New Delhi based political parties. But there is no change,” said Paswan who is also part of the “Committee for Promotion for Dialogue with Jammu and Kashmir” – an initiative by non-Congress and non-BJP parliamentarians.
A delegation of Rajya Sabha Members headed by Paswan are on a three-day visit to Kashmir to know the reasons for female population decline in the state as disclosed by the Census-2011.
“Government is not saying no to anything. (But) what have they done about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the youth booked under PSA? Why don’t they release those who are not involved in any heinous crimes? It announced the package but there is need to built trust among people so that they start believing that something is moving forward on ground,” he added.
Paswan asserted that perception about Kashmir was fast changing in India. “After the visit of All Party Delegation last year, Centre didn’t come up with proper political package forcing us to form an independent panel. Our purpose is to tell the masses that innocents and students are being killed in Kashmir and the 118 youth killed last year were not terrorists. Kashmir is not about terrorism,” he said.
Criticizing Government of India’s decision to appoint apolitical persons as interlocutors, Paswan insisted that the panel should have comprised of personalities of political stature. “The purpose for which the panel was set up has not been achieved.”
About the controversy surrounding Dogra certificate, Paswan said state government should rescind the order.
“Jammu and Kashmir is one state. If they would keep separate laws for Srinagar and Jammu, anybody can rake up the issue to create tension,” he said.
Demanding inquiry in the killing of Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, he said “Government should probe how the blast took place as cops are deployed in every nook and corner.”

Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST