<p>Intellectuals and social activists from across the country have demanded from the central and the state governments an urgent stop to the “killings of civilians” in Kashmir.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Meanwhile, Left students’ and women organisations took out a protest march at Jantar Mantar against the killings in Kashmir.<br /><br />In a Citizens’ Statement on Kashmir, the academics, writers, artists and social activists have called for demilitarisation of the Valley and review of Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA).<br /><br />They have also blamed policies of the BJP for the current unrest and said that BJP’s arrival in the portals of power and its determined pursuit of a majoritarian agenda have much to do with the current upsurge of civil unrest.<br /><br />Those who have signed the statement include Aruna, Roy, Nandini Sunder, Zoya Hasan, Manoranjan Mohanty, Dunu Roy, KM Shrimali, Jayati Ghosh, Indira Jaisingh and Sandip Pandey among others.<br /><br />“In 2010, this cycle rolled on repeatedly through four months, claiming over 110 lives, mostly of Kashmiri youth, including a number who were too young to know,” says the statement.<br /><br />“Nothing has been learnt from that year of catastrophe. The circumstances of Wani’s killing are yet to be fully explained,” the activists said.<br /><br />“Burhan Wani’s life story should be cautionary warning that the heavy-handed, militaristic Indian approach to Kashmir, has only led to a quarter century of siege and growing alienation,” they argue.</p>
<p>Intellectuals and social activists from across the country have demanded from the central and the state governments an urgent stop to the “killings of civilians” in Kashmir.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Meanwhile, Left students’ and women organisations took out a protest march at Jantar Mantar against the killings in Kashmir.<br /><br />In a Citizens’ Statement on Kashmir, the academics, writers, artists and social activists have called for demilitarisation of the Valley and review of Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA).<br /><br />They have also blamed policies of the BJP for the current unrest and said that BJP’s arrival in the portals of power and its determined pursuit of a majoritarian agenda have much to do with the current upsurge of civil unrest.<br /><br />Those who have signed the statement include Aruna, Roy, Nandini Sunder, Zoya Hasan, Manoranjan Mohanty, Dunu Roy, KM Shrimali, Jayati Ghosh, Indira Jaisingh and Sandip Pandey among others.<br /><br />“In 2010, this cycle rolled on repeatedly through four months, claiming over 110 lives, mostly of Kashmiri youth, including a number who were too young to know,” says the statement.<br /><br />“Nothing has been learnt from that year of catastrophe. The circumstances of Wani’s killing are yet to be fully explained,” the activists said.<br /><br />“Burhan Wani’s life story should be cautionary warning that the heavy-handed, militaristic Indian approach to Kashmir, has only led to a quarter century of siege and growing alienation,” they argue.</p>
