Those who Arrest ask for release

NC meeting calls for releasing political detainees

Srinagar, July 22: While calling for releasing all political detainees for creating atmosphere for peace, National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah Thursday said that Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh was open to talks with the separatists.

“Prime Minister has already kept doors open. He wants them to talk and can’t do more,” said Farooq Abdullah, the union minister for new and renewable resources while addressing reporters here.

“It is for the separatists now to accept and talk,” he added as he was flanked by the chief minister Omar Abdullah.

Earlier, a marathon seven-hour long meeting of the National Conference working committee called for releasing all the political detainees while dealing with iron fist with those “destabilizing forces”

“The Working Committee urged the Government to consider releasing all political detenus in order to build an atmosphere conducive for peace and reconciliation,” said Farooq Abdullah, the former Chief Minister.

The working committee meeting, he said, also resolved that the the ruiling alliance should deal with the forces of “destabilization” firmly and “simultaneously build the confidence of the majority of the law abiding citizens who do not want their day to day lives to be disrupted by these forces.”

The meeting also underlined that the Kashmir was primarily a “political” problem required peaceful political means for settlement. “The only way to bring normalcy and permanent peace to the State and the sub-continent is to restore Autonomy in its pristine form as guaranteed in the Indian Constitution. However, The National Conference reiterates its stand that if a better solution than Autonomy is forthcoming, the party will welcome it,” he added.

Referring to the seventeen deaths in last eight weeks, the meeting termed as “unfortunate” the loss of precious lives and conveyed its heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families. “The committee urged the Government to provide adequate relief to these families to help them in their hour of grief.”

Call for end to the strikes and the restrictions, Farooq said, that the Working Committee noted with dismay that people have suffered huge economic losses during the recent disturbances particularly small traders, vendors, labourers and other weaker sections of society. “Also that the educational system and academic schedule have been badly disturbed which could endanger the future of the young generation and in this background appealed to the people of the State to come forward for restoration of peace and normalcy irrespective of their political affiliations”.

Father of incumbent Chief Minister said that the meeting expressed serious concern about the problem of unemployment of the educated youth in the State. “State government and the Central Governments are urged to take urgent steps to address this problem effectively. It was also resolved that Government should consider making suitable modifications in the Sher-i-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Policy for the Youth (SKEWPY) in order to make it more attractive.”

The meeting also resolved, he said, urgent and comprehensive steps for strengthening the party at all levels and also condoled the sad demise of the mother of senior leader and Member of Parliament, Mohammad Shafi Uri.

Sidelines of NC meeting

Srinagar: The seven-hour working committee meeting of the ruling National Conference witnessed hot exchanges among the members, leaving party president, Farooq Abdullah fuming which was also evident when his interacted with the press.

As per insiders, one of the members from south Kashmir was asked not to talk of Pulwama only while calling him and others to strengthen party in entire region.

Complains galore that few ministers and MLCs were not allowing party leaders to meet Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.

One of the ministers of the party also talked about relinquishing his post after mud slugging was made against him by many members.

The president Farooq Abdullah was urged by many to relief some of the aged members from top position, asserting that they were unable to dedicate required time for proper functioning of the party.