SRINAGAR: Elections cannot be held in the Kashmir Valley as long as militancy is not contained and youth lay down their arms.
Ghulam Rasool Kar Pradesh Congress (I) President said that people by and large have understood the “Pakistani game.” They are asking their wards to hand over their arms to the security forces and Start their lives afresh This had become possible due to continued pressure exerted by the Border Security Force and the Central Reserve Police on the militants.
Kar has returned after a weeklong stay in the Valley visited Kupwara Sopore Pattan Bandipora and Ganderbal. However he could not call meetings of Congress workers as it would have endangered their lives.
Asked if the Congress cadre was Still intact in the Valley the PCC chief said these who believed in secularism democracy and accession of Kashmir with India continued to be cither in the Congress or the National Conference.
Pakistan the people thought wanted to usurp Kashmir without shedding a drop of Pakistani blood. It had successfully lured the Kashmiri youth and instigated them into king up arms in the name of Islam. In the process it had got them killed at the hands of the security forces.
The majority of Kashmiris no longer believed Pakistan TV and Radio news which often gave an exaggerated version of militant encounters and their exploits. Many people however blame security men for harassing and killing innocents after militants have run away.
Most Kashmiris complained of extortion rape and revenge killing by militants.
He confirmed that government funds had found their way into the hands of those elements at the cost of development work.
There are reports about security people releasing hard-core militants and sale of arms to them. The issue had come up for discussion in the State Advisory Council meeting and the Governor had assured that effective measures would be taken to stop the same.
However the SAC was all praise for security personnel and State Police for arresting Al-Umar commander-in-chief Mustaq Ahmed Zargar alias Latram along with eight top militants.
Asked if there was any possibility of starting the political process in the Valley Kar said that with himself Dr. Farooq Abdullah of NC and Yusuf Tarigami of CPM continuously visiting Kashmir the process had already begun.
Meanwhile the Congress dissidents have decided to hold a separate function to mark the first death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi in Jammu.
Kar and Mangatram Sharma senior PCC (I) General Secretary have made fervent appeals to Janak Raj Gupta and Dharam Paul Sharma both former MPs to desist from such anti-party activities.
The dissidents led by former minister and veteran Gujjar leader Mian Bashir Ahmedare supported by Madan Lal Sabarma Chunilal Sharma Amolak Singh Sraman Bhagat Harilal Hitcsh Ved Mahajan Rafiq Sadiq and Mirza Abdul Rashid a former Speaker.
They are demanding reconstitution of the PCC (I) and replacement of its president by proper election Kar and present PCC (I) members are all nominated by the AICC (I) president.
Prime Minister P.V Narasimha Rao had formed a two-member committee comprising Balram Jakhar and Mohsina Kidwai to submit a report on Kashmir Congress infighting but so far no decision had been taken on the reconstitution of J and K PCC (I).
While dissidents claim support of 45 out of 55 Jammu Congress blocs Kar claims support of 30 Congress blocks of Kashmir Valley though a majority of them are still dormant and inactive due to- militancy.
Kar is the only Kashmiri who visits parts of the state and tries to activate Congress rank and file which no National Conference leader has done so far
Article extracted from this publication >> June 5, 1992
