GCC grieved over Pulwama attack, calls for political approach to resolve Kashmir issue

Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday called for a political outreach in the valley to find a lasting solution to Kashmir issue.

Expressing grief over the killings of over 40 CRPF personnel in Pulwama attack, the GCC said they feel a mature response calls for a serious introspection on why such an attack took place. 

   

“We express our condolences and sympathies with the families who have lost their kin and we hope that such incidents are not ever repeated,” said the GCC – a group comprising jurists, former civil servants, academicians, journalists, businessmen and social activists from Jammu and Kashmir.

At the strategic level, they said, there are serious questions of security lapses and intelligence failures that need to be addressed. “A crucial question, which stares us in the face is, why militancy is getting an upshot, instead of being brought under control, as against the claim made by the government and officials in the last few months that militancy has been wiped out,” they asked, in the statement.

They said a dispassionate assessment and introspection invokes the political component of the incident. “The way forward does not lie in muscle flexing and harder military methods, which ultimately contribute to more violence and add to the strength of radical groups,” they said.

“GCC feels that, instead, there is need for a political outreach in the Valley and diplomatic engagement with Pakistan both on the issue of terrorism and finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir Issue,” added the statement. 

The GCC also expressed “grave concern” at the attacks by hooligans and miscreants in Jammu and elsewhere on a particular community, particularly Kashmiris.

“We appeal to the Government of India and J&K Governor to ensure the security and safety of all citizens, particularly the Muslims and Kashmiris in Jammu, as well as act sternly against such elements that are vitiating peace. We appeal to the government to foil the designs of communal polarization, which the Pulwama attack was aimed to achieve,” added the statement.

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