Asking the Central and State governments to introspect as what went wrong from 2014 to 2017 that youth gets irritated and violent with the name of elections, senior CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami Friday said they are the same people who were in long queues in 2014 elections.
“In 2014 elections, enthusiastic youth were in long queues to vote. What happened in less than three years that same youth gets irritated and turns violent with the name of elections? Central and State government need to introspect as what went wrong between then and now that has alienated the youth of Kashmir from election process,” he said in a statement issued here.
“After turbulent 2016, both Central and State governments must have initiated some confidence building measures (CBMs) to instil the confidence among the people and especially youth. But unfortunately, that instead of initiating dialogue and CBMs the response of the Government has been to use more and more force. Government must understand that more it used the force, more it will aggravate the situation. It is the high time that the Government shuns its ego and initiates a dialogue without any further delay,” the CPI (M) leader said.
There is no logic of deferring Anantnag by-polls to May 25, instead the authorities should have postponed it till the ground situation improves before the polls are held.
The government should stop the arrest spree in the Valley especially in south Kashmir. “Such suppressive measures to contain dissent adds to the already existing levels of alienation among the people. Instead of putting the youth behind the bars, there is need to understand their anger. Government must take such steps which can heal the wounds of the people, especially youth. Using force and arrest as tool to silence the protests but will only prove detrimental and counterproductive.

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