Panchayats must play role in maintaining peace in J&K: Mir

All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference chairman Shafiq Mir today appealed to Panchayat leaders here to maintain peace and communal harmony and ensure that no member of any minority community is harmed.
Without looking toward the state and Central governments, it is the responsibility of the local Panchayats to ensure peace in their respective areas and bridge the gap created among different communities by vested interests, he said.
"Panchayats can play an important role in maintaining peace and brotherhood, and they must play their role without involving vested interests in the matter which is entirely a social issue," Mir said in a statement issued here.

In time of such crises when mistrust and hatred is prevalent among neighbours, the Panchayats, being in local governing bodies and respectable people of the society, have a major role to play, the AJKPC chief said.
Mir also urged police to coordinate with respective Panchayats and seek their help to maintain peace in the state.
Holding Chief Minister Omar Abdullah responsible for the mayhem in Jammu and Kashmir, Mir said since this government took charge, the state has witnessed only killings and curfews.

He said in the present scenario responsible members of the civil society must not be mute spectator leaving every thing on the Omar government, which is "not capable enough to handle such issues".

"In fact, Omar Abdullah has got alienated from the masses and no body believes and trusts him," Mir claimed.
Expressing sympathies with the victims of Kishtwar violence, Mir alleged it was a well planned conspiracy by vested interests.
Mir asked both the communities to shun rigidity on their respective demands because the present dispensation cannot do anything and it would only prolong their miseries.