SRINAGAR – Violence in the Kashmir Valley shows no signs of abating and is,in fact, being stoked by “talk of revenge” and “unrestrained publicstatements” from various actors, a citizen’s group said in a statement onTuesday.
The Concerned Citizens Group, including former Union minister YashwantSinha and former National Commission for Minorities chairperson WajahatHabibullah, expressed deep anguish over the escalation in violence and saidthe solution to the present crisis lies in political dialogue.
“We note with deep anguish the recent escalation in violence in Kashmir.This has led to avoidable loss of civilian lives as well as that ofsecurity force personnel. What is worse is that the violence shows no signsof abating. In fact, it is being stoked further by unrestrained publicstatements by various actors and the talk of revenge,” the group said.
The statement was also signed by author Rajmohan Gandhi, former Delhi HighCourt chief justice A P Shah, former special secretary in the cabinetsecretariat Vappala Balachandran, former air vice marshal Kapil Kak, formersecretary in the ministry of external affairs KC Singh, senior journalistBharat Bhushan and Sushobha Barve of the Centre for Dialogue andReconciliation.
It was evident that despite being aware of the futility of picking up arms,an increasing number of desperate youngsters are joining the ranks offighters.
“At this critical juncture, when an entire generation of young Kashmirisfinds itself at a cross-roads, we would like to urge everyone concerned tostep back from the conflict,” they said.