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| Omar wants peace, no abuse of human rights, Jehad against drug addiction | | Shutdown, undeclared curfew in Srinagar downtown but little tension on I-Day | | Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Aug 15 : Independence Day ceremonial parades went on smoothly throughout Kashmir even as business activities remained frozen due to a call for shutdown from the separatist Hurriyat Conference and restriction of movement enforced by Police and paramilitary forces. Undeclared curfew was witnessed in Srinagar downtown where authorities did not allow any movement even as there was little tension in the air on this occasion this year.
In this capital city, as well as all other district headquarters and major townships in the Valley, Independence Day celebrations progressed smoothly at all official venues today. While as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah unfurled the national flag and took salute at the ceremonial parade at Bakhshi Memorial Sports Stadium under tight security arrangements, his ministerial colleagues performed the ritual at nine other district headquarters.
For the first time this year, there was no cultural programme or dare-devil show by Police commandoes. Officials said that death of 13 Ladakhi children in a road mishap near Manali yesterday was one of the reasons though these items had already been deleted due to the holy month of Ramazan. Reports from several district headquarters, including Kargil, however, said that cultural programmes were an integral part of the day's celebrations.
With Srinagar downtown being virtually under curfew and Police and CRPF restricting movement in upper half of the capital city and all other district headquarters, Hurriyat-sponsored shutdown looked a great success. Most of the shops and business establishments remained shut and traffic was off the road. Inspite of heavy security bandobust for first half of the day, a number of shops were seen open in the after and private non-commercial vehicles plied in the afternoon.
Shops were later found open at several places in uptown, indicating absence of the tension Valley had witnessed on such occasion in the past many years. The situation was a sharp contrast particularly to I-Day of last year when a renegade Constable had hurled his shoes on Chief Minister at Bakhshi Stadium and as many as 30 civilians had got killed in first half of August in street clashes with Police and security forces in the Valley.
While addressing a gathering of Policemen in uniform as well as in civvies, besides a number of government officials and mainstream politicians at Bakhshi Stadium, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stole his separatist rival Syed Ali Shah Geelani's puritanical agenda. He expressed his deep concern over the menace of social evil, particularly drug addiction, among the youth and called upon civil society to unite and put its act together in eliminating it.
Omar said that youth are the future of the State and their proper nurturing is the duty of all of us. "As a head of the family and in the capacity of a father I beseech upon the young generation not to indulge in this kind of activities which would perish them physically and mentally and mar the future of the State", he maintained.
On the importance of peace for development, Omar said that resolution of issues could be ensured only through talks in a peaceful and amicable atmosphere. He said gun has never been answer to any problem nor would it solve any issue in future. "We have to work for sustained dialogue to resolve internal and external political issues politically", he said expressing hope that Interlocutors would soon present their report to the Centre Government for further action.
"Prime Minister and Home Minister have assured me that the recommendations of Interlocutors would be given due weightage to seek the solution of the political issues between the State and the Centre", he said adding that talks between India and Pakistan would move on positively for peace and development in the sub-continent.
Omar said that his government would not tolerate any violation of human rights by any individual or government agency. He asserted that any abuse of human rights by Police or armed forces would be investigated, culprits identified and given exemplary punishment.
Reiterating his commitment for human rights protection, the Chief Minister referred to the recent incidents of human rights violation charges at Kulgam, Sopore and Poonch-Surankote. He maintained that his Government within the shortest possible time instituted enquiry and took prompt action against the culprits. "I have promised you zero tolerance against rights violations and I am firm on this commitment", he said assuring that his Government would never try to shield any violator of human rights violation nor protect anyone indulging in this crime. "I only request you to give me suitable time to unearth such allegations whenever they surface", he said adding that many attempts were made to disturb peace on one or the other pretext by vested interests. He congratulated the public for keeping calm and allowing his Government to book the culprits and chargesheet them as per law.
"I had asked you to give me peaceful atmosphere to address political and development issues. This year you contributed in maintaining calm in the State and my Government gave fillip to the development activities and pushed forward the political process for settlement of political issues", he said lauding Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi for providing highest ever annual plan outlay for Jammu and Kashmir for the current fiscal.
"State has been given Rs. 6600 crore annual plan for the 2011-12 besides Rs. 1200crore under PMRP. We are also receiving about additional Rs. 2000 crore under various centrally sponsored schemes", he said maintaining that his Government has sensitized administration at all levels to ensure judicious and appropriate utilization of these funds so that benefits reach to every household.
Chief Minister said that peaceful summer this year has acted as catalyst for the Government's promise to empower people and helped conduct of successful Panchayat elections in the State. Assuring full powers to panchayats, the Chief Minister said that a vibrant and delivering panchayat system in the State was his Government's commitment to the people.
Chief Minister said elections to municipal corporations and other urban local bodies would be held soon to make grass root public representatives powerful enough to serve the people. "There were elected local body institutions in the State in the past but without any power and financial independence. My Government assures both these aspects to the public representatives to be elected through urban local body elections", he said adding that empowerment of people was policy of his Government to improve the governance.
Listing the dividends of peace, Omar referred to the successful tourism season this year and said that more than 5.50 lakh tourists visited the State this summer and we expect many more in the coming months. "This has directly benefited to the people associated with tourist trade and indirectly to the economy of the State", he said saying that he has been time and again advocating that tourism should not be related to normalcy. "It is an economic activity and should continue as such in all circumstances", he said. |
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