Nothing substantial in 8-point Kashmir package: CPI-M

SRINAGAR - Jammu and Kashmir legislator M.Y. Tarigami Tuesday criticised the central government’s eight-point package announced in the wake of the all party delegation’s visit to the Kashmir Valley, saying it contained “nothing substantial” and encroached on state’s powers.

He also demanded a credible structural mechanism in the shape of a parliamentary committee to engage varied shades of political opinion and voices of dissent for sorting out the Kashmir issue.

The committee should be assisted by legal experts and knowledgeable bureaucrats to initiate dialogue on sustainable basis, he added.

Participating in a discussion on the prevailing situation in the valley in the state assembly, Tarigami - the lone Communist Party of India-Marxist legislator in the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir house - said: “Most of the package components, including the release of arrested youth, review of PSA (Preventive Security Act) cases, deployment of security forces, additional assistance and opening of schools, are exclusive jurisdiction of the state government”.

“These injunctions, as such, amount to encroaching upon the powers of the state government.”

Asserting that the recurring unrest in the valley was sending alarm bells for initiating serious, result-oriented and pragmatic measures to sort out the Kashmir issue permanently, Tarigami called upon the central government to “rise to the occasion or else the state will turn more volatile, the repercussions of which would impact the entire Indian security set-up”.

Members cutting across party lines spoke on the urgency of ending the present cycle of violence in the valley in which 109 people have died so far.

While Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members asserted that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and no power could change this reality, some ruling National Conference members including Mir Saiffullah said the Kashmir issue was an unsettled one and needed an immediate settlement to bring in permanent peace.

BJP’s Chaman Lal Gupta moved a no-confidence motion against the Omar Abdullah-led coalition government which was defeated by a voice vote.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) continued its boycott of the present session of the state legislature.