Srinagar: President Awami National Conference (ANC) Begum Khalida Shah Sunday said that a vicious wave of violence in recent weeks has cast a pall of gloom over the state.
Expressing deep sorrow and regret, Khalida in a statement said the civil society of both divisions of the state should rise in one voice and ensure that the situation is brought under control throughout immediately and defeat the fundamental forces bent upon destroying the fabric of this ‘unfortunate’ state.
She said the turn of events that are unfolding after the tragic events in Kishtwar are being fanned by the divisive forces to engulf the entire state. “These people have to be identified, stopped in their tracks & severely punished, how so ever high, influential or mighty they may be, belonging to any caste, creed, colour or religion,†she said.
Khalida stated that both the national parties – Congress and BJP along with the regional parties should desist from turning Jammu and Kashmir into an inferno. “Dividing this state on communal lines for political gains for forthcoming elections in 2014 is deplorable and an end to such anarchy has to be achieved at all costs,†she said.
The ANC chief called upon all political parties to let civil society play its role in bringing peace back on the roads and advised them to stay away from the affected areas by compounding confusion and adding fuel to the fire. “Let the administrations work with civil society rather than politicians and quell this fire at once. Politicians for a change should play second fiddle to the civil society at this juncture,†she said.
Khalida also expressed her heartfelt condolences for Bashir and Arvind who lost their lives in this tragedy and sympathies for the bereaved families.
