The PDP on Friday described as “worrisome” the centre’s decision to divert its unutilised share of water from the eastern rivers to J-K, Punjab and Haryana instead of letting it flow to Pakistan and warned that any such step would have “far-reaching consequences”.
The PDP was reacting to Thursday’s announcement of Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari that the government has decided to stop our share of water which used to flow to Pakistan.
PDP general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura while talking to media persons in Srinagar expressed concern over the war hysteria being created between the two countries post Pulwama attack and termed the decision to “stop water flowing to Pak and diverting it to other states a real worrisome decision which can have far-reaching consequences”.
“It has always been the cardinal principle of the PDP that no dispute can ever be resolved through confrontational attitude and it is dialogue and reconciliation alone that can provide a bulwark against the swirling tides. The two countries must understand that wars fought in the past only brought death and destruction to the people of both the nations,” Hanjura said.
He said that unless India and Pakistan initiate dialogue process, it is impossible that the situation in Kashmir will get any better and peace will return to the crises-ridden state.
He castigated the government’s decision of withdrawing security of Hurriyat leaders and separatists in the state and termed “nonsensical and vindictive in nature”.
Hanjura questioned the decision in which security of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other separatists in the state was withdrawn. He said the approach adopted by the authorities is vindictive in nature and those at the helm are turning their eyes away from reality without any compunction.
“There is also chaos and confusion prevalent within the system. On the one side Government claims to have taken away the security of Syed Ali Geelani, Yasin Malik and Shabir Shah and on the other side, these leaders claim to have never received any security cover. The government must come clear on this,” said Hanjura.
The PDP general secretary also asked the government to ensure safety of the Kashmiri students outside the valley and demanded safe return of those who want to re-unite with their families in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, alleged that jingoistic communal atmosphere is being created in the country after the 14 February attack on the convoy in which 44 CRPF personnel were killed. Kashmiri students were being targeted at various places.
He appreciated that despite provocative situation during the past three days, people of Jammu maintained communal harmony. However, some fringe elements in Jammu and the valley were trying to vitiate the atmosphere.
Tarigami said there was no place for communal hatred as all three regions of the state – Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh – were dependent on each other.
He urged Governor Satya Pal Malik to convene an all party meeting to discuss the situation.