Centre delaying implementation of steps to restore normalcy in Kashmir: CPI(M)

CPI(M) today accused the Centre of delaying implementation of measures suggested by an all-party delegation to restore normalcy in Kashmir and wondered if the NDA government was "allowing" disturbance to polarise people ahead of the polls to Uttar Pradesh and other state assemblies.
Speaking after the culmination of party's three-day Central Committee meeting, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the government should resume dialogue with all stakeholders, including Pakistan, besides taking confidence building measures to restore peace in the Valley.
"The government should begin sincere implementation of what the all-party delegation on Kashmir suggested to it...The senior ministers were all part of the statement.

"Both the Central government and the state government should initiate a political dialogue with all stakeholders. This, unfortunately, has not happened yet. Normalcy can be restored only through a dialogue," Yechury told reporters.
Kashmir is one of the issues on the NDA government's agenda for India-Pakistan talk. The government should resume dialogue with Pakistan, besides taking steps to build confidence among people of the Valley, to ensure a final resolution to the problem, Yechury said.
Wondering why the government is "delaying" implementation of the steps suggested by the delegation, Yechury said, "The government seems to be thinking that continuation of the disturbance and tension will help communal polarisation in the rest of the country and may give some benefit in the UP Assembly polls next year. If this is a fact, then it is most unfortunate and very dangerous."

The party in a statement said, "This is a dangerous situation. The Central government and the Hindutva forces appear to be considering that a strident anti-Pakistan position and crack down in the Valley through security forces would lead to sharpening of communal polarisation which may deliver electoral benefits to BJP in the forthcoming polls. This is dangerous."

Yechury said the Committee discussed the "havoc" created by cow protection and "murderous" attacks on Muslims and Dalits.
Such groups cannot be allowed to take law into their hands and should be banned immediately, he said, adding CPI(M) teams will visit Bijnore in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatpur in Rajasthan and Mewat in Haryana where minority community members were targeted allegedly for consuming beef.

"The Committee noted an all-round sharpening of communal polarisation and aggressive pursuit of the Hindutva agenda ...And called on all democratic and secular forces to come together in defence of India's secular, democratic Constitutional republic," he said.
The CPI(M) leader said the Committee also gave a call for building "anti-communal" platforms with democratic and secular forces and strengthening joint activities with Dalit groups.