Crisis in the Kashmir was not a law and order problem: CPI(M)'s MY Tarigami

Asserting that the present crisis in the Kashmir Valley was not a law and order problem or temporary eruption, CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami today said there was a sense of deep-rooted alienation among people which needs to be addressed through a political initiative supported by unconditional dialogue.

"The situation in Kashmir is political. It is not law and order problem or temporary eruption. It reflects the deep-rooted alienation of the people due to unfulfilled promises," Tarigami told reporters after meeting the all-party delegation in Srinagar.

He said the Centre should take a political initiative to address the Kashmir problem which should be supported by unconditional dialogue with all shades of opinion in the state.

Describing the situation in Kashmir as "very serious", he said any casual or adhoc approach to put the problem on the backburner will only precipitate the crisis further.

Tarigami insisted that the delegation should meet separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik who have decided not to meet the central leaders.

"It should not be a matter of ego. If not all, those members who want to meet the separatists should knock at their doors to send a message that the Indian Parliament is willing to start a dialogue for resolving the issue," he said.

While appreciating the visit of the delegation, Tarigami said it would have been better if the leaders also visit the victims of the present crisis in the hospitals to send a message to people of Kashmir that the nation cares.

"We don't want Kashmiris to feel that the delegation came and returned a failure. They should also not be like a traditional delegation which does nothing after going back," he said adding "the central leaders should inform the nation about the ground situation in Kashmir."

He said action should be taken against those security forces or civil authority who have transgressed their duties and violated the law.

"It should be made clear that no institution or individual of these institutions is above law. If anyone has violated the law and has not been brought to book yet, it is an insult to the very institution that he or she represents," he said.