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PDP: cover-up continues despite Manmohan’s statement

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assurance of justice to the victims of rape and murder at Shopian comes as a relief but, at the same time, it highlights the “criminal negligence” on the part of the Jammu and Kashmir government, People’s Democratic Party(PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said on Thursday.

Addressing a meeting of legislators and senior leaders of the party here, she said Dr. Singh’s announcement, though late in the day, should stir the State government out of its “cover-up mode.”

It was ironical that while the Prime Minister acknowledged the occurrence of the crime against the innocent girls, nobody from the State government had done even as much.

Questioning the government’s sincerity in ensuring a fair and transparent probe, the PDP president said the reports that key witnesses were being harassed and held in custody by the police would point to a “conspiracy” to shield the perpetrators.

“Reign of terror”

She condemned the “reign of terror” let loose by the government in Shopian, Pulwama , Manzhama and adjoining areas against the civilian population. “The official instruments are treating Shopian virtually as an enemy territory and talking to them only through brute force.”

Reiterating her party’s demand for rolling back draconian laws and demilitarisation of civilian areas as a prerequisite for ensuring human rights and for the resolution of the Kashmir problem, Ms. Mehbooba urged cadres to mobilise people for a peaceful and democratic campaign, being launched from Saturday.

“The campaign should not be seen as directed against anybody but it is to channel the democratic aspirations of a people who have been denied the fruits of a democratic society during the last seven decades.”

The PDP president regretted that human rights bodies and activists, especially women’s organisations, had not responded to the extremely depressing situation in the State.

While ragging on the campus or attacks on pubs caused outrage at the national level, no voice was being raised for the unfortunate daughters of Kashmir, she said.

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