Bhubaneshwar, December 29 (KNO): Terming the current phase of unrest in Kashmir as ‘unprecedented’, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Saturday said that the disastrous and failed policies pursued by the BJP Government in New Delhi during the last four and half years were responsible for the current mess in the Valley.
While addressing a series of seminars in Bhubaneshwar, Orrisa, he said during the last four and half years of BJP rule at the Center, its Kashmir policy has been a failure.
“The current phase of unrest is unprecedented. There was alienation before also, but in the last few years it has depended. The truth is that there is huge alienation, anger and disillusionment among Kashmiris and the reason is that the BJP Government looks at Kashmir only through the prism of security,” he said as per a statement issued to KNO.
He said the core of BJP Govt’s Kashmir policy remains exclusive reliance on repression, use of disproportionate force. “Continued hate campaigns, harassment of Kashmiri students in certain states is only adding fuel to the fire. The communalisation of politics by the Sangh Parivar has created a situation of mistrust,” he added.
The record of the present regime in Delhi is not only disappointing, it has also added fuel to the fire because of its erroneous policies vis-à-vis Kashmir, he said, adding that in 2014 when Parliament and Assembly elections were held, there was huge participation of people.
“However, dismal voting percentage was recorded during by-election to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. On one hand Government of India (GoI) boasts that it held Urban Local Bodies and Panchayat elections in the state, but the fact is that the by-election to Parliament constituency of south Kashmir could not be held in two and half years due to the unrest,” he said.
During a seminar on “Challenges To Our Composite Culture, Harmony and Parliamentary Democracy” organised by Odisha Jana Chetana Manch, he said, Sangh-Parivar’s hate camping against minorities and Dalits across country in the name of Gua Raksha and other such issues is one of the reasons responsible for the current unrest in Kashmir. “The emergence of the BJP at the national level and greater targeting of the minorities, Dalits, unreasonable, irrational statements against them by those in authority has only added to the already existing uncertainty in Kashmir,” he said.
“It frightened Kashmiris and sense of insecurity increased. Several people were killed in mob lynching in the Indian mainland and it resulted in a new wave of unrest and the response of the GoI has been negative. Right now, an average Kashmiri feels that if at all there is some unrest, the government of India will show only one type of response – that of pellets, bullets and tear gas,” he said.
Despite assurances by New Delhi that it will resume the dialogue, the only approach in the last four-and half years has been maximum use of force, he said, adding that in the last four years around 300 civilians were killed, but no enquiry was held ever, and no one was held accountable.
“I appeal democratic forces in the country to intervene and raise the voice within and outside the Parliament to put an end to this disastrous policy pursued by the BJP-Government. People in the rest of India do not know the sufferings of people of Kashmir,” he said.
“If the BJP Government continues to terrorize the people, it will only be adding to the limited number of militants at present. The Government must understand that Kashmir’s problem is because of accumulation of political, social, and human factors and not merely because Pakistan is trying to make inroads in Kashmir,” Tarigami said.
“Kashmir’s problem is a historical one and the massive unrest has only deepened by the successive wrongs of the governments in Delhi, and particularly made worse by the one headed by Modi. These policies, if not reversed are bound to endanger the very foundations of the Republic. It is very clear now that Modi Govt is trying the Kashmir situation to help its campaign of deepening communal polarization across the country in the run up to the general elections,” he added.
Tarigami addressed the seminar as chief guest with Janardan Pati, senior CPI (M) leader and Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik besides others spoke on the occasion. A public meeting held at KHORDHA, a place of popular uprisings was also addressed by Tarigami, Janardan Pati and leader of opposition in Odisha Assembly Narasingh Misra along with other leaders.(KNO)