Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Concerned Citizens Group led by former External Affairs and Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha today said that solution to the present crisis in J&K lies in dialogue at the appropriate political level.
“We note with deep anguish the recent escalation in violence in Kashmir, which has led to avoidable loss of civilian lives as well as that of security force personnel”, the Concerned Citizens Group said in a statement.
“What is worst is that the violence shows no signs of abating. In fact, it is being stoked further by unrestrained public statements by various actors and the talk of revenge”, the Group Coordinator Sushobha Barve said, adding “it is also evident that despite being aware of the futility of picking up arms, an increasing number of desperate youngsters are joining the ranks of militants”.
It further said, “at this critical juncture, when an entire generation of young Kashmiris finds itself at cross-roads, we would like to urge everyone concerned to step back from the conflict”, adding “while picking up arms by the militants is bound to attract the use of force against them by the State, intensifying the confrontation can only worsen the situation”.
Stating that solution to the present crisis in J&K lies in dialogue at the appropriate political level, the Group said, “only by winning the hearts and minds of people can their faith in the political process be restored”.
The signatories to the statement are Yashwant Singh, former External Affairs and Finance Minister, Rajmohan Gandhi, Author, A P Shah, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Wajahat Habibullah, former Chairman National Commission for Minorities, Vappala Balachandran, former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, Kapil Kak, Air Vice-Marshal (retd), K C Singh, former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Bharat Bushan, Journalist and Sushobha Barve, Executive Secretary, Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation.
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