Srinagar, May 9 (KNO) : The crucial All Party Meeting ended in Srinagar today with almost a unanimous message that Delhi should announce a unilateral ceasefire at least for the upcoming holy fasting month of Ramzan so that people of Kashmir would observe Eid-ul-Fitr peacefully. The ceasefire, which the all political parties of Kashmir, believe can pave way for also a smooth and peaceful Amarnath Yatra slated for June this year that lasts till mid-August.
Talking to reporters after chairing the crucial APM at SKICC here, on the banks of famous Dal lake, Chief Minister said that encounters bring miseries to a common man. “There was a common consensus at the APM that there should be a unilateral Ramzan ceasefire on the lines of one announced by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” she said. “At least this will help bring some sort of normalcy in Kashmir as encounters bring trouble for a common man. Peace is must for smooth Amarnath Yatra too.”
Theidea of Ramzan ceasefire was floated by Chief Minister and seconded by all the members that include opposition National Conference, PDP and independent legislators like M Y Tarigami, Hakeem Yasin and Engineer Rashid. What remains to be seen is that whether Mehbooba can persuade New Delhi to prepare its forces for the unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir for at least Ramzan that can be extended till Amarnath Yatra is over. In Kashmir, apart from the last year’s operation all out that saw 210 militants dead, this year in the first four months 60 militants have been killed in the “joint operations” launched by the police, army and CRPF.
The anti-militancy operations have, however, emerged a major challenge for the forces not just they can’t kill the militants, but for the fact that every encounter sees civilian causalities which snowballs into major law and order situations and even prompts forces sometimes to call off the operations. “Even if Delhi announces ceasefire violation, offer has to be reciprocated by the United Jehad Council (UJC) headed by Syed Saludhin. It needs two hands to clap.
It should not be like forces would be asked to abide by the ceasefire offer and militants would continue their attacks,” said an analyst, wishing anonymity. CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami who was present in the meeting, said that its time for an introspection. “Ramzan ceasefire is a best option as military solution won’t work in Kashmir,” he told Kashmir News Observer (KNO). The senior BJP leader and the newly appointed deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta said: “I believe ceasefire should remain in vogue forever. But if other side (militants) would violate it, forces will accordingly reply.”