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A unanimous resolution adopted here on Wednesday by representatives of political parties that visited Kashmir earlier this week urged the Centre to keep talking to all stakeholders in the Valley. There were also demands to reduce the Army’s powers in the State by relaxing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and to provide more economic aid to the State.
In the meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who had led the delegation, the Left parties demanded that the armed forces cease the use of pellet gun to rein in stone-pelters, and come up with alternative methods of mob control instead.
Shun pellet guns: Left“The Home Minister told us that the Centre is exploring new methods such as non-lethal weapon PAVA to control violent mobs. We have asked the Centre to hold talks with separatists and Pakistan to find a permanent solution to the problem and to ensure peace in the valley,” CPI leader D Raja told BusinessLine after the meeting.
The resolution, read out after the meeting by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitender Singh, appealed to the people to shun violence and resolve all issues through dialogue and discussion. The statement also asked the Central and State governments “to take steps for a dialogue with all stakeholders”. Expressing serious concern over the prevailing situation in the State, the statement added that the members of the delegation were of the view that there is no place for violence in a civilised society. “There can be no compromises on the issues of national sovereignty,” it added.
The meeting asked both governments to take steps to ensure that educational institutions, government offices and commercial establishments start functioning normally at the earliest. The members also requested the Centre to take effective steps to ensure security for all citizens and provide medical treatment to citizens and security personnel injured in agitation.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that even though the government had announced that pellet guns would be replaced by the PAVA, one man had died on Tuesday due to the injuries from the pellet guns.
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