Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 11: Concerned over the continuous closure of shops and public transport for the past 68 days in Kashmir valley, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday urged people ''not to succumb to militants and resume their normal activities''.
''Closed shops and no public transport, who benefits? Are we going to succumb to the militants,'' a government Spokesperson asked, in a full front page advertisement, published in local newspapers on Friday, urging people not to get misled and resume their normal activities in the valley. People are protesting against scrapping of Articles 370 and 35 A, besides dividing the state into two Union Territories on August 5, when leaders of some mainstream political parties, including three former Chief Ministers, were detained. For over 70 years now, people of Jammu and Kashmir have been misled, the Spokesperson added.
''They have been victims of vicious campaign and motivated propaganda that has kept them trapped in an endless cycle of militancy, violence, destruction and poverty. While separatists sent their children to exotic lands to study, work and earn, they instigated the common people to push their children into violence, stone pelting and hartals,'' he alleged.
''They used threats of militants, coercion and misinformation to beguile the people. Today, the militants are using the same tactics of threats and coercion. Are we going to tolerate this?,'' he asked.
''We are at the crossroads today. Do we permit the age-old tactic of threat and coercion to influence us? Will threat and misinformation prevail or will we take informed decision on what is best for us?''
''Will we let a few posters and threats push us into not resuming our business, not earning our legitimate livelihood, not securing a rightful education and secure future for our children and not letting development bloom for our Kashmir?,'' he asked further. ''This is our home and it is for us to think of its well-being and property,'' he added, while asking, ''Why fear?'' |
