Srinagar, Oct 27: Expressing concern at the sudden spurt in violence in Kashmir which has resulted in injuries to many, the Peoples Democratic Party has said this was a fallout of mishandling of situation by the government.
In a statement, the party president Mehbooba Mufti said it was unfortunate that the confusion created by a recent announcement by the CM about limited withdrawal of Disturbed Area Act had resulted in utter confusion and the price was paid by ordinary civilians. She expressed full sympathy with the victims of these grenade and shooting attacks over the past two days describing them as out-rightly condemnable.
Mehbooba said Peoples Democratic Party had a clear view and vision on the emergency laws and had spearheaded the movement for the restoration of full civil liberties and democratic institutions in the state. That required relieving of armed forces from civilian duties and withdrawal of special powers that clash with basic human rights and democratic values. This issue, she said, was discussed at different levels and the Prime Minister had set up a special committee in Defense Ministry way back in 2007 in response to Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s initiative. Subsequently it was discussed in the PM’s round table conferences in which the PDP had strongly demanded the end of special laws.
The working groups constituted by the PM had endorsed the view to revoke these laws in the interest of the people of the state and an amicable, lasting resolution to the Kashmir issue, she recalled.
Regretting that the superficial and incompetent handling of the issue by CM Omar Abdullah had led to an atmosphere of confrontation, Mehbooba said it appears that the CM had not done his home work before he rushed to make an announcement about the proposed withdrawal of AFSPA from certain areas, even though such withdrawal from places like Samba, Jammu or Srinagar only would make little impact on the situation but at least it could be a small beginning for a larger process. Things were made worse by the usual lack of cohesion among various components of the government and it seems that a debate is taking place only after the announcement was made by the CM while it should have happened in the reverse sequence.
Mehbooba said the NC has emerged once again as a party with forked tongue and is blaming every body else except itself for its faults. Even the family members Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mustafa Kamal have been speaking in different voices and the party has not been able even to reconcile differences with its alliance partner it seems from the statements made by the coalition partners, she said. Mehbooba said the present crisis once again highlight the personality deficiencies of the chief minister as he failed to take even his own political partners on board before making a hasty announcement. “It seems the chief minister is unable to overcome his traits of arrogance and as a result is causing problems to the people”, she said.
Mehbooba said any move towards revocation of AFSPA should in normal course have brought relief to the people but instead the violence had suddenly spurted and various links of government engaged in a blame game which is hurting further the already paralyzed governance. It seems in place of providing relief to people and introducing an element of relaxation the government has succeeded only in instilling fear among people as a consequence of fresh violence and political infighting, she added.

TARIGAMI WELCOMES PARTIAL REVOCATION
Welcoming the proposed withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) from selected areas of the State, CPI (M) State Secretary M Y Tarigami has said that such issues of public importance should not be messed up in avoidable political skirmishes.
A statement quoting Tarigami said that given the improved security situation, CPI (M) has always been stressing for scrapping of the draconian laws.
“Since there is marked improvement in the overall security situation in the state, time has come to revoke this law at least from certain areas at the first instance,” he said.
Saying that steps like revocation of AFSPA shall ensure relief to the traumatized people of the state, Tarigami said such initiatives should not be perceived as compromise on overall security requirements.
“There is dire need to provide relief to people and any such move in that direction should not be discouraged or allowed to be consumed by political or security discourses,” he added.

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