Opposition parties in Kashmir to approach President Pranab Mukherjee, want probe

Omar Abdullah said Kashmir is a political issue which needs to be addressed politically

With Kashmir on the boil, the state's opposition parties on Wednesday decided to approach President Pranab Mukherjee to apprise him of the "real" situation even as they demanded a probe by a retired Supreme Court judge into alleged use of excessive force by security personnel.

The meeting of leaders of National Conference, Congress and CPI(M) besides some independents also wanted a special session of the Assembly to discuss the situation and decided to send a delegation of opposition parties to Delhi to press for a dialogue with all stakeholders.

They insisted that blaming Pakistan for everything that goes wrong in Kashmir was not the right approach.

"We have decided to seek time from the President to apprise him about the real ground situation in Kashmir," National Conference working president Omar Abdullah told reporters here after the meeting at his residence.

The meeting was also attended by Congress leaders including JKPCC chief G A Mir, CPI(M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Independent MLAs Hakim Mohammad Yasin and Sheikh Abdul Rashid and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir.

"We will try to persuade the (Union) government to take steps that will at least help in improving the situation in the Valley," Omar said while referring to the unrest which has been going on for the last 40 days and resulted in the killing of 63 people.

The former Chief Minister said the opposition parties have demanded an inquiry by a retired Supreme Court judge into the allegations of excessive force by security forces while dealing with protestors.

"Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in her speech on August 15 has herself said that some elements in security forces did not follow her instructions (of exercising maximum restraint). So this is an opportune time for a judicial inquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court judge," he said.

He said all the opposition parties were worried over the youth getting killed and injured in security forces' firing, while the state and the central governments "mishandled" the situation.

"We are also worried that the political nature of Jammu and Kashmir has neither been accepted nor understood. When it has not been accepted, it is implied that no efforts have been made to find a solution to it," he said.

Omar said Kashmir is a political issue which needs to be addressed politically.

"The first step is to admit and recognise the anger and then take steps to address it. So far that has not happened," he said.