New Delhi must involve everyone to resolve Kashmir: Yechury

By Mudassir Kuloo

Srinagar, Mar 19: Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury on Monday took on the Narendra Modi-led government at the centre for “failing” to initiate a dialogue with all the stakeholders to Kashmir issue.
Yechury, who was part of all party delegation to Kashmir during the 2016 unrest, said that BJP government at the centre had no “specific” policy on Kashmir issue.
“I was part of the all party delegation led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The Centre accepted that dialogue process will be initiated with all the stakeholders, but nothing has happened so far,” he said in a press conference here.
He has come to Kashmir to attend the 11th state conference of CPI (M) being held at SKICC Srinagar.
“Our stand is clear that talks must be held with all stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir. But the government at the centre is unwilling for talks. If we want to find a solution to this political problem then government has to involve everybody,” Yechury said.
He was flanked by CPI (M) State General Secretary M Y Tarigami.
Asked he took any initiative to meet Hurriyat leaders in 2016, he replied, “As independently any one can start a dialogue process but I have no authority for implementation of its outcome. Government’s involvement is necessary for any dialogue process. We can only press for a political dialogue on Kashmir issue,” he said, while asking for revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state.
During 2016 unrest, Yechury along with four other MPs went to meet senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani, who refused to hold any talks with them.
He said the government of India, in 2016, had accepted to stop use of pellet guns as a confidence building measure (CBM).
“The centre promised use of pellet guns will be stopped in Kashmir and dialogue will be initiated with all stakeholders. The promises have not been fulfilled even after two years,” he said.
The CPI (M) leader also criticized the centre “for not” presenting interlocutors reports before the Parliament.
“At least these reports should have been discussed in the Parliament,” he said.
He asked the BJP government to unveil its policy towards Pakistan. “There is no clarity about centre’s policy towards Pakistan. Sometimes they (BJP) said composite dialogue will be held with Pakistan, then stop the process and national security adviser talks are held in a third country.”
Yechury said people from both sides get killed due to cross border firing.
“It is a grave situation. Lot of people are getting killed. There shall be a clear policy towards Pakistan to find a solution to the problem.”
In Jammu and Kashmir, he said government has failed to provide employment to the educated youth of the Valley.
“Development is visible nowhere in India. Muslims and Dalits are being attacked. Private people take law in their hands on the name of Gau Rakshaks and anti-romeo squads. There is interference in the judiciary,” he said, while calling strengthening of “people’s movement for removal of BJP government at the centre”.