Hold talks with separatists and Pakistan on Kashmir issue:CPI(M)

Srinagar Nov 19: Suggesting a meaningful dialogue with the voices of dissent on Kashmir issue, the CPI(M) today said 'Jammu and Kashmir, a human tragedy, is much more than a political conflict between India and Pakistan.' The Kashmir issue has to be viewed through a human perspective, the CPI(M) twelve-page manifesto released by State Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Targami here said.

To address alienation among the locals, the CPI(M) suggested a number of measures, including strengthening of state human rights commission, general amnesty for prisoners, withdrawal of all draconian laws, disproportionate presence of security forces, rehabilitation of migrants and inhabitatnts of the state living near the Line of Control (LoC), strengthening of Right To Information (RTI) Act, implementation of labour laws, employees and workers welfare, national rural employment guarantee scheme and jobs for unemployment.

Mr Targami also suggested measures for journalists and writers besides other developmental activities.
''In order to reach a stage where reconciliation was seen as the only way out, Kashmiris lost a generation in the pursuit of peace, justice and dignity,'' he said.
If the decades old conflict is to be settled, the neighbouring countries must do much more to address the grievances and deal with the legacies of half a century effectively, Mr Tarigani added.

''The need of the hour is that both India and Pakistan must involve all shades of opinion across the divide, in order to reach an early settlement of this vexed issue.'' He said the countries need to foster all forms of bilateral contacts to improve the lives of Kashmiris, who have borne the brunt of the conflict. Dialogue will have to be expanded beyond high governmental levels, if real constituencies for peace are to be nurtured.