Srinagar: Refusing to talk over the use of pellet guns and the presence of AFPSA in Kashmir, Nobel peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi Monday said that ‘past is past’ and said that he is not any politician to make statements over such issues.

Satyarthi had visited Kashmir to launch his Bharat Yatra- a campaign for child rights. He launched his campaign today at SKICC along with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

During the launching of his campaign, the reporters asked Satyarthi to express his views about the use of pllet guns in Kashmir during the 2016 uprising and slapping PSA on the juveniles, the Nobel peace laureate said, “I don’t want to speak anything over this as I have come here to fight for child rights and will knock at every door for the children of Kashmir. They are like my own children.”

“I am not any politician to give my statements over these issues. I am against every form of violence,” he said, adding that the children shouldn’t be used for the violence.

“Children should not get involved in politics. They need love and compassion to fulfill their dreams,” he said, adding that he would meet pellet victims of the Valley.

“I want to meet them. They all are like my children and I want to know more about them,” he said, adding that “Children are not safe in schools and homes. If one child is not secure, then entire world is not secure.”

Stating that nearly nine lakh people have taken the pledge to fight child abuse, he said their target was 10 lakh but they have reached a target of 12 lakh.

“One crore people have taken the pledge online,” he said.

He said that UNICEF released a report 10 years ago which says that 53 percent children face sexual abuse in one form or the other. “It has now become a moral epidemic.”

He said that law against children trafficking should be set up in India. “Every hour eight children are stolen in India.”

Chairperson State Women’s Commission Nayeema Mehjoor that everyone should fight for the child rights.

“Action is not being taken against persons involved in violence against children. We have to raise the voices and unveil such people,” she said.

Guest