NEW DELHI: Under a major 8-point initiative to address the unrest in the Kashmir Valley, a group of interlocutors is being appointed to hold a "sustained dialogue" with various shades of opinion, about 200 youth detained for stone-pelting are being released and the presence of security personnel is being de-scaled.
Significantly, the notification of areas as "disturbed" will be reviewed which could pave the way for non-application of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to certain parts which will cease to be treated as disturbed.
Unveiling the initiative after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the Centre also announced grant of ex-gratia relief to the families of those killed in civil disturbances since June 11. The total number of dead is over 100. The Union Home Minister, Mr P Chidambaram, briefing reporters after an hour-long meeting, said the Centre has also advised the state government to immediately review the case of all Public Safety Act detenues and withdraw the detention orders in appropriate cases.
The move was welcomed by ruling National Conference and main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while the separatists maintained a studied silence over these announcements.
The Chief Minister, Mr Omar Abdullah who met Mr Chidambaram after the CCS announcements welcomed the move and expressed the hope that these steps would ultimately lead to resolving of political issues of Kashmir. He said that he will be convening a Unified Headquarters meeting next week during which footprints of security forces in towns and withdrawal of "disturbed areas" act in few places would be discussed.
Opposition PDP said that "it is definitely a good beginning but more needs to be done." The hardline Hurriyat Conference rejected the Centre’s eight-point formula terming it as an "eye wash" even as other separatist outfits maintained a studied silence. The moderates Mr Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mr Yaseen Malik said they would react only after discussing the issues among their own parties.
Among the decisions announced by Mr Chidambaram is to appoint a group of interlocutors under the chairmanship of an eminent person to begin the process of dialogue with all sections of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including political parties, groups, youth and student organisations, civil society organisations and other stake holders.
The Centre also advised the state government to immediately release all students and youth detained or arrested for stone pelting or similar other violations of law and to withdraw charges against such students and youths.
The Centre would request the state government to immediately convene a meeting of the Unified Command and to review the deployment of security forces in the Kashmir Valley, especially Srinagar with particular reference to de-scaling the number of bunkers, check-points etc in Srinagar and other towns, and to review the notification of areas as ‘disturbed areas.’
A relief of ` 5 lakh each will be paid to the families of those killed in the civil disturbances since June 11, 2010. The government also announced that two Special Task Forces, one each for Jammu region and Ladakh region, will be appointed to examine the developmental needs of the two regions with particular reference to deficiencies in infrastructure and make suitable recommendations.
The Centre will request state government to take steps to immediately reopen all schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions; hold special classes or lectures, if necessary; and to ensure that examinations for the current academic year (2010-11) are conducted.
The central government will provide to the state government a sum of ` 100 crore as Additional Central Assistance (ACA) in order to make grants to schools and colleges for improvements and additions to the existing infrastructure such as classrooms, auditorium, laboratory, library, play ground, toilets.
Meanwhile, the Centre’s eight-point formula on Saturday saw the nation’s political class reacting on predictable lines with the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) hailing the initiative but main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party saying government should reach out to people and not the separatists.
Congress, on the other hand, said the formula was holistic and a well-thought out package and hoped it will be reciprocated by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The CPI(M) welcomed the government’s initiative and wanted the Unified Command in the state to positively consider a review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
The BJP, which had distanced itself from some leaders of the all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir meeting separatist leaders, said it would support all steps which are "anti-separatists and pro-citizens."
