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Tarigami urges Centre to start talks in Kashmir

Addressing a huge gathering at Handwara in the frontier Kupwara district on Monday evening, Tarigami appealed to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to use the opportunity provided by the historic assembly election and initiate a dialogue with a cross-section of the population to ensure peace in the militancy-ridden state.

He said the Centre should also initiate a composite dialogue with Pakistan to end violence in the state.

Tarigami, who was accompanied by local MLA Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi and Hakeen Mohammed Yaseen, was greeted by thousands of people and accorded a warm reception at Handwara.

Giving a veiled call to separatists in the state, the leader of the newly formed Democratic People's Forum comprising two CPI-M and five independent legislators, said the election had provided an opportunity not only to those who had been voted to the state legislature, but also those who had remained outside the democratic process.

"Opportunity comes seldom and I appeal to those who remained out of the political process to join the caravan of the people of the state who have been yearning for peace now," Tarigami said.

The central government, state government, and other groups, including separatists, should act, and fast, so that the process of dialogue can be started quickly and with seriousness, he said.

Tarigami said the de-escalatory measures taken by India and Pakistan were only half-hearted and needed to be further cemented by the initiation of serious talks between the two countries.

A serious effort for holding parleys will pave the way for the restoration of peace in the state, he said.

Commenting on the forthcoming summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Tarigami said, "Dua karo ki dono log aapas mein baat karen [Pray that leaders of both sides speak to each other]."

About the DPF's decision to stay away from the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government, Tarigami said, "It is a new experience. We will continue to support the coalition government as long as it sticks to the common minimum programme."

Sofi, a rebel of the separatist Peoples Conference, said his forum was not hungry for power and would continue to support the Mufti-led government as long as it focussed on the problems of the people.

He also appealed to the state government to initiate a time-bound inquiry into the killings of prominent Kashmiri leaders like Mirwaiz Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone, and Qazi Nissar.

People should know the real face of killers and also whether there were any lapses on the part of the previous National Conference government, he said.

Addressing the gathering, Hakim Mohammed Yaseen, an independent legislator from Khan Sahib, said the proposed 'ethisab (accountability) bureau' should be started soon and also cover the alleged corruption of the previous government.

Jammu & Kashmir Election 2002: The complete coverage

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