Situation in Kashmir back to 1990, address it before 2019: Hakim tells Mehbooba

Jammu: PDF Chairman and MLA Khansahib Hakim Mohammad Yasin here on Wednesday said Kashmir situation has reversed back to 1990 as the incumbent Mehbooba government has for the first time in last three decades resumed the highly condemnable practice of house to house searches and there is no end to killings of civilians during public protests. He sought clarifications from the government over its decision of holding Panchayat polls after withdrawing security to some of the former ministers, and Ex-Panchs and Sarpanchs of the opposition parties. He asked Chief Minister not to wait for 2019 Parliamentary elections but take some decisions concerning security, peace and hand holding of youth in the State.
Taking part in the debate on motion of thanks to the Governor’s address Hakim said “the situation in Kashmir is back to 1990, random exercise of house to house searches continues in nook and corner of the Valley, before announcing Panchayat polls security has been withdrawn to Ex-Ministers and Panchs and Sarpanchs of the opposition parties and their right to freedom of expression has been snatched from the government employees with a blanket ban on them over use of social media”. He said restrictions are even imposed on the opposition leaders and Ex-Ministers and legislators when they intend to visit their home constituencies only for digging out the roots of public anger generating in nook and corner of the valley. He questioned that what are the intends of the government in holding Panchayat elections when security has been curtailed to most of the opposition leaders and Ex-Ministers and security cover has been withdrawn to most of the Ex-Panchs and Sarpanchs of the opposition parties. He also said that holding Panchayat elections in absence of seventy third amendment required for empowerment of Panchayats is a crude jock.
Slamming government for inaction against the officers responsible for the killings of civilians during public protests in Kashmir Hakim said government has though announced amnesty to one time stone pelters but the clarification on whether the government has withdrawn all cases against them is yet to come. He also sought amnesty for the stone pelters arrested and put on trial during 2008 uprising and 2010 unrest. He also sought rehabilitation of those land owners whose land has been identified for the construction of ring road in Budgam district.
Hitting out at the central government for not giving the mandate and unfolding the roadmap for talks Hakim said “appointing Interlocutor for Kashmir talks is a welcome step but denying a mandate to him and showing unwillingness to roadmap for talks speaks volumes about the non seriousness of both the central and state governments on the issue of resolution of Kashmir issue. Questioning Prime Minister Narinder Modi’s commitment that his government would bring peace to Kashmir by embracing the Kashmiris that talking with the politicians of one set of ideology and denying engagement with the politicians of other ideologies is not the way Kashmir can be resolved.