The Hindu : Other States / Jammu & Kashmir News : Police running the State, says J-K leader

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Thursday, Sep 16, 2004

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Police running the State, says J-K leader

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR SEPT. 15. Expressing deep concern over what he called "trampling of democratic rights of people", the Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary, M. Y. Tarigami, today accused the People's Democratic Party (PDP)- led coalition Government of turning Jammu and Kashmir into a "police state".

Mr Tarigami told a news conference here that political parties had never allowed the democracy to flourish in Kashmir and that was happening today as well. "It has been a common feature with the successive Governments," he said and added: "In the name of national interest denial of democratic rights here is justified in their view."

He was referring to the recent incident of firing in Banihal in which one labourer was killed and 45 were injured. "Their only fault was that they were demanding to be treated as human beings," said Mr Tarigami who is the member of State Assembly. Accusing the police of resorting to "hooliganism and authoritarianism", he said there seems to be no accountability in this State. Those who were helping these workers or part of it were being framed in cases. Mr Tarigami said he was shocked to see the reaction of political establishment which ignored this as a stray incident.

The CPI (M) leader in the Lok Sabha, Bhasudev Acharya, also visited Banihal today and expressed sympathies with the workers.

Stating that the PDP- led Government had negated its own "healing touch" policy by turning a blind eye to such an incident, Mr Tarigami said: "J&K has been converted into a police state. Police is running the affairs of the Government and do whatever they like,"

"Despite an army of ministers in the coalition Government it is police which reaches each and every spot to suppress the voice of the people whenever they raise their legitimate demands'', he alleged.

"Installation of the present coalition regime in the State seems to be no different, though the performance of UPA Government at the Centre is yet to be assessed'', he said.

He said that elementary democracy was under threat in Kashmir which provides a tool in the hands of those preach secession. Unfortunately New Delhi had failed to realize this even in last six decades, he said. But at the same time he said he would take this (Banihal) issue to the nation at large and apprise them how people are treated in this State.

To a question whether his party would withdraw support to coalition, he said no but added: "We are supporting the government but would not compromise on principles.''

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Police running the State, says J-K leader