Srinagar, Apr 14: MLA Langate Engineer Abdul Rashid Saturday said Kashmiris had nothing to celebrate about the Interlocutors’ report and the panel was constituted just to divert attention from the unrest of 2010.
“The report prepared by Interlocutors, if media is to be believed, does not even reflect a single sentiment of a common Kashmiri. The appointment of Interlocutors was just aimed at diverting the attention of people from the simmering summer of 2010. They have not touched significant issues like core of the problem – Kashmir issue and human rights violations like forced labor,” Rashid said addressing a press conference here.
Rashid said it was surprising how the Interlocutors’ report was leaked.
The MLA said Center-appointed Interlocutors despite visiting various places in Kashmir have failed to reflect people’s voices.
“New Delhi is showing casual approach towards people of Kashmir. In the beginning it seemed that the Interlocutors would represent the common sentiment but it fizzled at minor problems like AFSPA and PSA. The core of the issue has been untouched,” he said, adding that such exercises were initiated to exhaust Kashmiris.
“The Interlocutor’s report, if media reports are to be believed, does not touch the instrument of accession and its fundamentals. Kashmir has been a dispute since 1947 and it has been always people’s aspirations that are at the heart of the problem,” Rashid said.
“I am happy that India and Pakistan are coming closer but ground situation in Kashmir has to be considered and taken due care,” the MLA said.
He said there was no need to create regional councils and they were initiated to create imbalance in the state. “What are these regional councils? Everything is working in the state and the development is taking place but there was no need to create regional centers and the move is aimed at partitioning J&K,” Rashid said.
Planning to move National Human Rights Commission over the alleged forced labor of Kashmiri youth, including himself, by Army for constructing bunkers and roads in Kupwara district during 1990s, the MLA said for 13 years Army forced people to labor in Handwara.
“This grave human rights violation has been already authenticated by Director General of Police that people in Handwara from 1990-2003 were forced to labor. I appreciate Police for that. SHRC had given clear cut recommendations for compensating the youth. In fact, I have been also the victim of this grave human rights violation,” he said.
“The report of Army movement in Delhi is a clear sign that Army is dangerous for the Union of India. Army has a professional job to do and they must stick to that,” Rashid said.
The MLA sought involvement of political parties in the issue of forced labor. “Why are the main parties silent over the issue? The opposition PDP must raise their voice against this human rights violation,” he said, adding that Center should come clear on compensation and apologize to victims of forced labor.
“If government is funding communal Village Defense Committee (VDCs) in areas of Poonch, Doda and Rajouri why can’t they compensate those innocents who were exploited for 13 long years?” he questioned.
Alleging that government was enacting drama over taking over the Center-run power projects, the MLA said if government was serious on taking back projects then “why was my resolution on NHPC disapproved in Legislative Assembly.”
“PDP should not only target Abdullah Family and Cricketgate (they should) rather discuss more significant issues,” he said, adding that the opposition by ruling coalition over NHPC resolution left them exposed.
“Civil society should also fortify their stand in taking back power projects,” he said.
The MLA said government has proved a failure in providing passports to people in the Valley.
On Afzal Guru, he said he will again move the clemency resolution. “Why is Chief Minister Omar Abdullah silent? Why did Speaker LA reject the resolution? They do not even allow talking about Afzal Guru,” Rashid said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST