CPM urges PM to be purposeful on Kashmir

Urging India and Pakistan to reverse the self-destructive path and take bold initiatives to address the vexed Kashmir issue, the CPM State Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has said people expect Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s proposed visit to Kashmir would be more purposeful with regard to stalled peace process aimed at resolution of Kashmir issue.

In a statement, the CPM leader said with the peaceful democratic transition and the return of Mian Nawaz Sharif to power in Pakistan, both the countries need to make serious efforts to turn a new leaf in their relations. “People of Kashmir are forced to bear the brunt of disruptions in Indo-Pak dialogue. Now, the time has come when New Delhi and Islamabad should make serious efforts to turn a new leaf in their relations. For this the leadership has to exhibit will and capacity to move forward and revamp the stalled peace process,” Tarigami stressed.

Reiterating his demand for implementation of half-way left out recommendations of the working groups constituted by the prime minister himself, Tarigami said people of Jammu and Kashmir have the right to know the fate of the recommendations of the working groups and prime minister must take the people of Kashmir into confidence about the measures taken to implement these recommendations.

“I urge upon the prime minister to take concrete steps during his tenure to initiate a result oriented dialogue with Pakistan and the main stake holders,” Tarigami observed, adding that the resolution of Kashmir issue is in the interest of both countries to bring peace and prosperity in South Asia.

He said rigidities must be replaced with flexibilities and both the leaderships and the people of the two neighbouring countries should realise urgency of this commitment. The CPM leader remarked that mere rhetoric won’t do. 

“Besides, free and fair political processes, measures like extra-economic investment, jobs for youth, rebuilding of social institutions are urgently required to address the alienation among the people.”