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| PM arriving Kashmir today | | Hopes versus apprehensions on internal dialogue | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 6: Even as not much significance is being attached to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit to Kashmir in terms of internal dialogue process with the separatists, it is hopes versus apprehensions and fears once again expressed from different quarters across the state ahead of his visit as usual.
Both Centre as well as state government has been non committal about any formal offer to separatists for resumption of dialogue process with the separatist leaders though there are ample indications that suggest government is inclined to break the ice once again in the changed environment vis-à-vis relations with Pakistan as also drastic change in ground situation in Kashmir valley. Hopes of people in general and stakeholders, in particular , including the government are raised in this regard ahead of the arrival of the Prime Minister.
State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already set the tone of the Singh's visit by claiming that though dialogue is the only way forward to address the issue of Kashmir but at this stage Prime Minister is only visiting Kashmir to attend the convocation ceremony of SKUAST. PM determined to strength dialogue process.
Coalition government's main ally Congress and its senior leader - Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prof Saifuddin Soz while expressing optimism over his visit has said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is determined to strengthen the dialogue process on all issues. The Prime Minister, who is visiting Kashmir tomorrow, was fully determined to strengthen the dialogue process and bring all the stake holders on board for a meaningful and decisive dialogue, Prof Soz said today adding that Dr Singh had displayed his courage and farsightedness in resuming dialogue with Pakistan, despite all odds.
The veteran Congress leader further said Dr Singh's vision would succeed in creating an era of sustainable peace and progress in the sub-continent.
It is however, a different matter that separatist groups have given bandh call to coincide with the visit of the Prime Minister to Srinagar tomorrow. But that is being seen a routine gesture by a section of the hardline separatist leaders to highlight the highhandedness of the security forces involved in the alleged fake encounter case of three Kashmiri youth and have raised pitch of their voice demanding withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
According to informed sources, initially when Prime Ministers visit was okayed some ground work was done to initiate dialogue with the separatists but the sudden turn of events and the alleged case of fake encounter have now given different dimension to the things and scheduled programme.
During his visit Dr Singh will also find some time to review the progress of the Prime Ministers reconstruction programme aimed at building infrastructure across the state. But the thrust and all eyes would be on what or whether he chooses to make any announcement in regard to resumption of talks at internal level. It remains to be seen whether PM DrManmonhan Singh would be able to emulate statesman ship of NDA Prime Minister AB Vajpayee who went beyond the stated word and used the Kashmir soil to bury the differences or PM will simply stick to the written script without any twist in the story of Kashmir.
On the contrary some political parties like BJP and other Jammu based organizations have expressed some apprehensions with regard to the Prime Minister's visit. In her statement ahead of PM's vist, BJP state spokesperson Dr Nirmal Kamal today said his visit has again raised hopes that he will come with another special package to address the vital issues pertaining to Jammu & Kashmir State. While PM would be seriously evolving strategies to restore normalcy, it is expected that he will not simultaneously ignore imbalances and discrimination among the regions of Jammu and Kashmir State. This aspect is vital due to the fact that the State for the last more than six decades has been witnessing political and economic uncertainties and turmoil in the last 20 years, which has cumulated miseries of the people - all due to regional discriminatory policies adopted from time to time creating a wedge among the different regions of the State.
BJP has also equally expressed concern and fears that Prim Minister should not give any assurance to separatists or mainstream opposition in Kashmir on repeal of AFSPA or withdrawal of Army which will amount to compromising the national interest in J&K. Instead Army in the state should continue to give support to civil administration in fighting Pakistan sponsored militancy as long as militancy is not completely flushed out.
While these are the hopes and optimisms versus fears and apprehensions with regard to PM's possible baggage of political announcement during his visit, there are scores of organizations which have come up with their agenda of demands while others like some migrant Kashmiri Pandit youth organizations choosing to stage protest demonstrations to express their anger and annoyance before PM during his state visit. Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir today appealed Dr. Manmohan Singh for a comprehensive socio-economic package for tribal community in shape of resolution of all pending tribal issues with union government including opening of Tribal University, Inclusion of Gojri into eighth Schedule of Indian constitution and conduct of Special census of nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals. In a statement the Scheduled Tribe , community which constitute 20% of total population of State through Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation -a frontal organization of Gujjars has listed dozens of demands seeking immediate intervention of Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, while elaborate security arrangements have been made across Kashmir and in and around Srinagar in particular, Army has sent messages warning of a suicide attack during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Jammu and Kashmir. However, they have been found to be unsubstantiated by the state police and central security agencies.
The Army establishment in the Valley had pressed panic buttons by claiming that Lashker-e-Taiba commander Abdullah Unni was planning to carry out a suicide attack during Singh's visit starting tomorrow, official sources said.
Communications were sent to the state as well as the Centre for shifting of the venue of the Prime Minister's official engagements to Cantonment area, a proposal rejected by the state government.
The state police and the central security agencies sought the coordinates of the intercept of the terrorists by the Army, but it turned it down citing operational reasons, the sources said.
The state police had sought the CD of the conversation between the terrorists to get a voice sample of Abdullah Unni which was also not provided by the Army, they said.
There were other intercepts the Army has claimed to have picked up from the border in North Kashmir but none of them could be corroborated independently by the state or central security agencies, the sources said.
During the last visit of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to the state, Army had picked up two engineers who were planning to visit secretariat for attending a meeting.
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