‘Separatists ruling the roost in Kashmir’;Governor must assess situation under Sec 92 of State Constitution: Harsh

 STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Expressing serious concern over the breakdown of administrative and constitutional machinery in the State and attacks on Amarnath pilgrims, as well as police stations and security forces, Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman JKNPP and former Minister, on Thursday appealed to the Governor to intervene and assess the situation under powers conferred upon him under Sec 92 of the Constitution of the State.
Addressing the media persons, Harsh lampooned the government for having failed to respond appropriately to the situation created in the wake of killing of Hizb Commander and the resultant turbulence witnessed in the Valley.
He regretted that with dozens of people killed, more than 1,500 injured and religious pilgrimage being assaulted, it was virtually a case of anarchy and lawlessness prevailing in Kashmir with no signs of government on the ground.
He said that the ministers who ought to have come out of their hiding and made them-selves available to the civil society had deliriously shun their responsibility thus allowing the situation to further deteriorate.
Alleging total collapse of law and order with administration having lost control over the fast deteriorating situation, Harsh said that the separatists, subversives and anti-nationals had virtually taken control of the situation with repeated calls for extensions of violent protests. He said that most alarming was the dis-arming of the security personnel who were ordered by the BJP-PDP Government not to use force despite the gravest provocations of the saboteurs or inspite of the violent attacks by them.
He said that while use of disproportionate force was always condemnable, the security personnel could not be made fodder to highly violent and aggressive felons and could not be deprived of the right to self defense.
He cautioned that the fast deteriorating situation had the potential to revert back to early nineties and said that the unholy alliance between the BJP and PDP was squarely responsible for the same.
Holding the appeasement policy pursued by the government responsible for the prevalent crisis, Singh said that the government had taken several unsavoury decisions at the behest of separatists and others anti-national forces which had emboldened such elements.
He said that the decision taken for release of 634 stone pelters reportedly linked to ISI and other terror outfits, consent for opening of Nepal route for return of militants, vacation of land from Army, refusal of Abhinav Gupt Yatra, denial of Sainik Colonies and KP Townships were all under the explicit dictates of separatists thus encouraging them to intensify their fissiparous tendencies.
He said that non initiation of action against those waiving Pak flags and ISIS flags and showing disrespect to Indian Flag had emboldened the felons besides dampening morale of security forces.
Harsh regretted that the tale piece of the sordid State of affairs was the full support of the BJP to the Kashmir centric leadership in the highly egregious decisions which in effect amounted to compromising the national honour and security for the lust of power.
While ridiculing the tall slogans of ‘zero tolerance’ against anti nationals given by BJP, he regretted that the saffron leaders had infact displayed infinite tolerance only to retain the role of junior partner in the PDP government.
He said that it was high time that Union Government and State Governor acted to save the State from ruin and disaster.
Present in the press conference were Rajesh Padgotra, Gagan Partap and Rakesh Verma.