“I am called Pak agent for encouraging peace: Aiyer”
“Nothing less than plebiscite acceptable to Kashmiris: Bar ”
Srinagar:
Terming the situation in Kashmir worse than expected, the civil society members said people of valley have lost faith in the government and with each passing day the trust deficit is increasing.
The civil society delegation, comprising of prominent personalities from different sections of society, was on a two-day visit to Kashmir for first-hand assessment of the situation in curfew-bound Kashmir.
“People in Kashmir have lost trust in both state as well as the central government. No one from the government has come to hold their hands at this time when they are facing a mountain of problems,” said senior journalist, Vinod Sharma who was part of the delegation.
Vinod, who had spoken to the injured civilians at SMHS hospital, said: “No message from the government has reached people even though they were not even expecting; but this has further increased their hatred.”
“People here don’t trust the government and with each passing day the trust deficit is increasing,” he added.
About the role of Indian civil society on Kashmir crisis, veteran journalist Prem Shankar Jha said: “The Indian civil society has no voice left for the media is tainted, ideas has been purchased from big corporations. There is an absolute terrorization.”
Talking about the motive of the delegation to visit Kashmir, Jha said: “I have seen the ups and downs in Kashmir for 24 years. To confirm my own understanding I have visited Kashmir. But the situation here is far worse than I had expected.”
“We as a team came here to see if anything can be done. And we are still in the process of talking to people to get an idea as to what to do and how to proceed,” Jha said.
Meanwhile, the civil society delegation interacted with members of J&K Bar Association.
Speaking on the occasion, Congress leader and former Union Minister, Mani Shankar Aiyer, who was also part of the team, said he was labeled ‘Pakistani agent’ in India for promoting peace between the two neighbouring countries.
“I have visited Pakistan 35 times so far only to interact with people there and promote and encourage peace. I don’t want war and people dying due to the conflict. Similarly, I want that Kashmir issue should be resolved to save lives of people,” he told the members of Bar.
Aiyer said he had come to Kashmir in individual capacity and not on the directions from his party or any other agency. “My visit is for people and to get to know the situation here,” he added.
Bar chairman, Mian Qayoom said: “Kashmiris want nothing less than a plebiscite because all other solutions have proved futile in the past.”
“We will continue to fight till Kashmir issue is not settled in accordance with the wishes of people. We want India to honor the commitments and promises made to us. We have been suffering from last 70 years as we don’t get right to self-determination,” Qayoom told the civil society members.
Senior Advocate Zaffar Shah also spoke on the occasion. “We are with people and with their aspirations and sentiments. The question is what steps have been taken and what is being done to resolve Kashmir issue. Track-II diplomacy, wars and so many international agreements and pressures, yet we are not able to find a solution to this problem. One easy solution in the democracy is to ask people. The solution should not come from above; it should rise within. If it has to rise within, then you have to ask people,” he said.
The other members of the delegation included social activist, Shabnam Hashmi, Air Vice Marshall (Rtd) Kapil Kak, journalists, MK Venu and Ruby Arun, OP Shah and Mohammad Hassan Ul Bana (South India).