Date:21/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082155191200.htm

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Start dialogue in J&K: CPI(M)

Special Correspondent

“Hold talks first separately and then jointly”; people urged to show restraint

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday expressed deep concern at the grave situation in Jammu and Kashmir and said that in the interest of the country it was imperative that the Central government take immediate initiatives to restore peace and normality through dialogue.

In a statement, the Polit Bureau said the process of dialogue should be started with both sides, first separately and then jointly to work out an acceptable solution. During the dialogue both sides must suspend calls for agitation and protest.

“The dispute over the land allocated for the facilities to be provided to the Amarnath yatris, should be amicably settled through dialogue,” the statement said.

Stating that the Centre must ensure that the traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway continued to operate smoothly, it asserted that “no disruption or blockade can be permitted.” It also suggested that the possibilities of opening up trade routes between Srinagar-Muzaffarabad, Jammu-Sialkot and Poonch-Rawalakote must be immediately pursued. Those who suffered losses due to the economic blockade must also be adequately compensated.

As for the families who members lost their lives or were injured in the disturbances, the party said that the compensation offered by the Central government should be given immediately.

The Polit Bureau appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise utmost restraint and not fall a prey to the provocation of the communal forces in Jammu or the extremist forces in the valley.

The RSS/BJP’s decision to make this into an all-India issue is bound to generate further tensions and is aimed at sharpening communal polarisation for their petty political/electoral interests.

Yechury’s appeal

Echoing similar views on suspension of agitation by both sides and call to the Centre for a dialogue over the Amarnath land row, Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said, “There are ways in which the issue can be resolved. But, it is unfortunately being utilised to meet political ends, which is dangerous and highly condemnable.”

Mr. Yechury, who had attended the all-party meeting on the Amarnath issue convened earlier this month, told journalists that the situation in the State was “very serious.”

Maintaining that a solution to the vexed issue was possible, Mr. Yechury said it would require amending the Amarnath Shrine Board Act and reconstituting the Board to include prominent and respected local people.

Favouring implementation of the High Court order on the Amarnath land row, he said that it was not about transfer of land. “Transfer of land is not at all an issue as is being projected by the RSS-BJP. It is merely a question of taking the land for a particular period to provide facilities to the pilgrims,” he said.

The land had so far been used to provide facilities to the pilgrims during the Amarnath yatra. “This has been the practice not only 60 years after Independence, but several years before that. Everybody agrees that facilities for pilgrims should increase.”