Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 3: Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) has taken note of the heightened concerns in public mind currently being expressed about the unprecedented deployment of paramilitary forces in the Valley, followed by an advisory from the State Government to all the pilgrims and tourists visiting the Kashmir, to cut short their stay and take all possible steps to leave the Valley as soon as possible.
“Quite obviously, these developments have give rise to apprehensions in the people’s minds about the possibility of abrogation of Article 370 & 35A of the Indian Constitution, which has become imminent, in the context of authoritative statements issued by the BJP leadership, demonising the Kashmiris as a whole,’ said a statement, issued by GCC.
Group of Concerned Citizens, J&K, is comprised of civil society members across communities and regions, including jurists, former civil servants, academicians, journalists, businessmen and social activists.
Irrespective of whether such concerns are well founded or not, these are reason enough to agitate the public mind. These apprehensions have risen to an alarming level, mostly through the social media. The State administration has taken an unduly long time in responding to such statements and terming these as baseless rumours. The Central Government is absolutely silent and is not clarifying the reasons for troop mobilization to reassure the public, the statement added.
In the circumstances, GCC demanded that the State Government should be sensitive to the people’s apprehensions and clear the air in this regard and ensure an institutional arrangement for conveying authentic information, from time to time, to the people, to discourage rumour mongering.
GCC also advised the people to stay vigilant about their environment and move towards a constructive future, without giving credence to unverified rumours. In particular, it has to be ensured that people’s response to provocative situations like the one prevailing today, is duly calibrated, winning the sympathy of the right thinking compatriots in the country and taking all possible steps to ensure continuity of the educational and healthcare institutions and safeguarding the livelihood of the toiling masses, the statement said.
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