Initiate dialogue

Sir,

Kindly refer to news items that appeared in your esteemed newspaper dated September 21, 2002 in which Prime Minister of India is said to have virtually made up his mind to open a dialogue with all elements in Kashmir afresh with a view to establishing lasting peace in the militancy affected State as previous efforts of Kashmir Committee to facilitate the same (dialogue) between Centre and Separatist leaders had received a major set back due to refusal of both the Prime Minister and his Deputy to meet these leaders in the wake of their unwillingness to participate in the current assembly elections. The Prime Minister had, however, assured the Kashmir Committee that the dialogue process to find a long term solution to the decade long problem would continue even after the elections and this statement depicts a ray of hope and determination to find an amicable and peaceful solution to the Kashmir imbroglio.

It was in this context that our Prime Minister went to Lahore with olive branch for Pakistani leaders, people and invited them for talks without any hesitation but had not started meaningful dialogue with our own people. It is said that if something is lost, misplaced at home, efforts should be made to find it at home itself. It is a word of caution to the Govt. of India that talks with Pakistani leaders even if these are held after the stoppage of militancy and cross border terrorism can/will not succeed unless these are preceded by comprehensive talks with our own people. There would hardly be any house hold left which has not been in any way affected by the on-going violence and our brethren belonging to Hindu minority who were compelled to leave their homes and hearths in the valley have been leading their lives in various parts to the State/Country in un-hygienic and un-suitable climatic conditions. Our budding youth whose services could otherwise be utilized for betterment of human society are being made cannon fodder alongwith so many innocent people and the precious lives which have are being departed from this world will never return in the existing physical form to rejoin the surviving members of their families.

Those in Govt. are requested to initiate a dialogue with various groups of people with open mind and sincerity of purpose. It is our inefficiency that our own people and youth have gone far from us and it should be our duty to bring them back to partake in the re-construction and all round development of the State and share the fruits of freedom obtained after offering supreme sacrifices of our known and unknown dear and near ones. Our leaders need to have human touch and parental affection towards all estranged elements in the State and instead of going to Pakistan by bus or train they should go to our own people on foot with bandages, ointments, medicines and teams of doctors to heal the injuries and bruises of the deprived and bereaved families and wipe out their tears with their own hands after saying good bye to their adamant postures as much damage has already been caused to our people and basic infra-structure. They should avoid political manoeuverings and double standard and come forward with clarity of mind. Coming close of separatist leaders to the members of Kashmir Committee and denouncement of violence by them is an achievement in itself and in view of our Prime Minister's fresh determination to hold dialogue with people of different shades of opinion they should be received at the negotiating table with open sleeves without issuing any sarcastic statement by any of our leaders as they (people of our State) are capable of bringing back normalcy and peaceful atmosphere through dialogue on all issues which should be initiated without further loss of time. The sooner it is done, the better for all of us. May God bestow better sense upon all concerned participants.

Yours etc...
Parma Nand
Hamirpur
Hiranagar (Kathua)

Poor power supply

Sir,

Price hike of commodities like onion, potato, and sugar, has is some of the past elections been a so decisive and dominant issue that most powerful of the ruling parties were made to lick the dust by the electorate. But how said it is in the J&K State that utter failure of the Govt. in the matter of electric power supply has not become a major poll-plank in any of the political parties' election manifestoes.

Every common man in the J&K State (leave aside a pocketful of ruling clans/VVIP's) is reminded ( nay, haunted) minimum five times a day regarding a total chaotic state of affairs as far as electric supply is concerned. The situation of power cuts, scheduled as well as unscheduled, becomes so disgusting at time that one thinks of blowing up the whole PDD and all its parahrenalia.

But meanwhile I was wonderstruck to understand from a newspaper report that the ruling party people like its President, Omar Abdullah, have not been able even to guage the gravity of the power problem. In a public address at Bakshinagar on 19.9.02 when the power was suddenly shut down, the said that he will teach the PDD people a lesson that they will never forget whole their lives if he is voted to power to become the Chief Minister. His views indicated two things-first, that his father has been miserable failure, and second, that it was perhaps the first time that Mr. Omar Abdullah happened to experience the predicament having been in a common man's locality, though under sheer compulsion of election campaigning.

But certainly, why the VVIPs and Ministers should ever get bothered? They never face power-cuts like a common man. They are enjoying themselves with luxurious 24 hour power supply in their palatial bunglows. No power cuts-no pinch. One power-cut at the Rally venue of Mr. Omar made him furious about the situation-what will be happening in this minds of those who are having the cuts and cuts all the way-leaders like him and his father should realize. They should not sell the pretexts. They have the responsibility. The Govt. has to act. Effective systems whatsoever feasible have to be evolved by the Govt. -none else. People want service and they are ready to pay for that. Those who don't, should be made to pay through their nose. Defaulters whosoever they are -a common man, an influential industrialist, or a VIP whosoever does not pay the electric charges and the PDD officials who collect the funds from public but guzzle down their bellies, all should be sent to jail. There should be no let up, but, the Govt, for God's sake should ensure smooth power supply in the current new millennium. It should not remind the people of the primitive times in this cyber age.

Yours etc...
Ms. Rinku Bala
Vill. Gadial, PO Haripur
Hiranagar (Kathua)
Hiranagar (Kathua)