KT NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, Sep 23: As the consensus eluded the all-party delegation that visited Srinagar and Jammu, on several issues, the government here on Thursday affirmed to go ahead with some Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), saying “it would not loose the little semblance of peace” that has come to Kashmir after the visit of the all-party delegation.
Members of delegation sat down here to prepare a report for the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which has been scheduled to meet next week on Tuesday.
At the North Block office of Union Home Minister P.
Chidambaram, four members of the delegation, leaders of opposition in parliament Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley (both BJP), Sitaram Yeshuri (CPI-M) and Joseph Toppo of Assom Gana Parishad arrived for form a report.
But, there was no consensus between the BJP and the Left members on the issue of partial revocation of AFSPA or withdrawal of security forces from the streets or even to give a semblance of relief to people reeling under curfews and daily strikes.
Arun Jaitley was seen walking out of the room, complaining that withdrawing of legal cover would affect the working of central security forces engaged in battles against stone throwers as the AFSPA was not applicable to armed forces alone.
He was responding to a suggestion that the law be withdrawn from selected locations, where armed forces were no longer engaged in operations.
The government sources, however, said they would not lose the opportunity of a semblance of peace and positive atmosphere created by the visit of delegation.
They were clear that it is not possible to make everybody happy and a voice of dissent would not be a stumbling bock to announce some confidence building measures (CBMs).
It is believed that the CCS will take a view on the basis of the report to be presented by the Home Minister on behalf of the delegation.
They (the CCS) will assess the individual views of members as well, if seen to help the return of normalcy and peace in Kashmir Valley.
Official sources here said the government was moving to take a short, structured and graduated response to make peace a possibility.
Among the steps, the sources said they are weighing the chances of releasing prisoners mostly youth detained recently during crackdowns for being suspected stone throwers.
Some 300 suspected stone throwers are cooling heals in various police stations around Valley may be released as first step.
The CCS will also take a call on partial revocation of AFSPA from selected areas.
Finally, sources here said additional battalions of central security forces would also be withdrawn from the Valley.
While the withdrawal of these battalions is aimed to create a positive atmosphere in Kashmir, but their removal has been necessitated due to impending communal tensions arising out of the Babri Masjid court verdict now deferred for a week.
Though there was consensus amongst members that a policy had to be formulated to reach out to the common man, the BJP and the Left had serious disagreement on the formula to be adopted for it.
BJP is opposed to any dilution in AFSPA while the Left is demanding its withdrawal, at least selectively.
Justifying his party’s stand, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said there was a misconception that AFSPA was meant to protect only the Army since it also extended to forces like CRPF and BSF.
He said once it’s withdrawn, these security forces will have to protect themselves and then Congress’ Sewa Dal will have to step in to protect the people.
“Weakening the security forces will give the separatists an upper hand,” he said.
Recounting his observations during the visit, Jaitley said the government will have to shape its policy to “bring the common man to our side.” He said the government has to be tough in differentiating between separatists and the common man, and separatists and separatism.
“Government will have to keep in mind whether the people are alienated from us or the separatists,” he said.
He said when thousands of stones are pelted and the security forces take action to stop violence, an incident triggers a feeling of “Kashmiri victimhood”.
Jaitley advocated that the government take a tough stand on dealing with separatists, saying “whenever the government weakens, the separatists will win the battle of nerves”.
Taking on Congress, he said, “till the UPA government does not sincerely accept that Nehruvian thinking on Kashmir was faulty,” it will not be able to tackle the problem.
“Separate status to the state was a journey towards separatism, not integration,” he said, narrating an instance of the closing of a dental college in the state because no outsider wanted to go and teach there.
The spectre of children pelting stones at security forces had leaders of other political parties, including “secular” outfits such as RJD, expressing their disapproval.
Rajya Sabha member Rajneeti Prasad, who was part of the all-party delegation, in his meeting with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is said to have stumped him by asking why he was involving children in his politics.
Meanwhile, the Left reiterated its position that the Centre should talk to “all” sections.
“We are prepared to reach out to every section to work out a solution within the Constitution.
All matters can be resolved through a dialogue,” said CPM polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury.
Addressing a press conference in the Capital, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta suggested “selective withdrawal” of AFSPA, release of all protesters who have not been slapped with serious charges, creation of a parliamentary committee on Kashmir and an economic package that includes revival of all PSUs in the state.
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