All party delegation heads for Kishtwar today: JAMMU, Aug 18: In a bid to break standoff between the two communities in Kishtwar, the Government is sending a high level all party delegation for two days to Kishtwar town tomorrow, which reeled under curfew for 10th day today even as four Ministers completed their talks separately with minorities and majority community after their two days stay in the town. The all party delegation, which will be headed by Planning and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra and Tourism Minister GA Mir and comprising about 15 other leaders of major political parties, would try to break ice by bringing both the communities on one platform, which the delegation of four Ministers was unable to do despite their two days stay in the town, which had witnessed large-scale vandalism by the miscreants of majority community on August 9 in which huge property including shops of other business establishments of the minorities were burnt, looted and damaged. Authorities didn’t relax curfew in Kishtwar town today in view of the presence of holy “Chhari Mubarak’’ and devotees of Machail Mata Ji. The “Chhari Mubarak’’ will leave Kishtwar tomorrow morning for Gulabgarh. Curfew was relaxed in Kishtwar town and outskirts yesterday for one and a half hours after dividing the town in two parts. The relaxation period had passed off peacefully. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu told that a 15 to 17 members delegation of all political parties would leave for Kishtwar tomorrow for talks with the two communities and resolve their issues. He said authorities decided against giving any relaxation in curfew in Kishtwar today in view of “Chhari Mubarak” of Machail Mata ji shrine passing from the town today. Official sources said the State Government has decided to send an all party delegation to Kishtwar with a view that it would be able to bring members of both communities on one platform for negotiations to resolve their issues and end the tension, which has led to imposition of indefinite curfew in the town on August 9 on the occasion of Eid festival. The all party delegation will be led by Planning and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra and Tourism Minister GA Mir and comprise Devender Singh Rana and Surjit Singh Slathia (National Conference), Janak Raj Gupta and Ravinder Sharma (Congress), Dr Nirmal Singh and Ashok Khajuria (BJP), Ved Mahajan (PDP), Balwant Singh Mankotia (NPP), Sheikh Abdul Rehman (Samajwadi Party), Tulsi Dass Langeh (BSP) and Thakur Randhir Singh (NCP) among others. The delegation would leave Jammu by road at 8.30 am and would be in Kishtwar till Tuesday afternoon when it would return. The delegation would try to bring the minorities and majority community together to sink their differences and start living together in peace, which seemed an uphill task under the present circumstances as both sides blamed each other during their separate meetings with the delegation of four Ministers. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier announced that the Government would send an all party delegation to Kishtwar. Meanwhile, the delegation of Ministers headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand after over three hours long meeting with a delegation of minorities in Kishtwar last night, today met about 100 members of majority community drawn from all political parties, social and religious organisations for over three hours this morning. The majority community delegation demanded immediate arrest of BJP leader Sunil Sharma for what they called “an old murder case of 2008’’, retention of DIG Doda-Udhampur range Ashkoor Wani and DySP Headquarters Farooq Qaiser on their posts, compensation to the majority community for damage caused to their shops in 2008 on present pattern and action against the persons involved in the killings of Bashir Ahmad Mochi and Lassa Khandey during the riots. The majority community refused to surrender their licensed weapon as directed by the administration saying they will not abide by the direction till the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) were disbanded. Replying to the points raised by the majority community, Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said the Government has already ordered a judicial inquiry into the riots and it will go into the reasons for violence. On the demand of BJP leader Sunil Sharma’s arrest, he said police have registered FIRs in rioting and killings and anyone found guilty will be dealt with under law. On the demand for compensation of 2008 losses, he said the NC Government was not in power at that time. Mr Sagar called upon both the communities to maintain communal harmony and live in peace so that curfew was lifted in Kishtwar and normalcy restored. Later, the delegation of Ministers left Kishtwar. While Mr Sagar, CAPD and Transport Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Lal Sharma flew to Srinagar, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand returned to Jammu. The Deputy Chief Minister, who headed the delegation, would brief Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the deliberations the delegation had with the two communities and steps required for restoration of normalcy in Kishtwar. Meanwhile, curfew continued in Kishtwar town and outskirts for 10th day today. No relaxation was given in curfew today as “Chhari Mubarak’’ of holy Machail Mata ji shrine reached Kishtwar this afternoon. Despite curfew, the members of minority community welcomed “Chhari Mubarak”. Authorities allowed few people to stay in Kishtwar along with the holy mace while others accompanying the “Chhari Mubarak’’ were directly taken to Gulabgarh. Sources said curfew was likely to be relaxed in Kishtwar tomorrow if everything goes well. Yesterday, it was relaxed for one and half hours after eight days. Curfew was imposed in Kishtwar and Army called out on August 9 after miscreants of majority community vandalized large-scale property of minorities including shops and business establishments. Meanwhile, an official handout said the team of Ministers had detailed meeting with both the communities who highlighted various issues and demands for consideration of the Government. The Ministers emphasized upon members of both the communities to strive hard and work for communal harmony in the region. They assured both the communities that an impartial judicial probe will be held and mischievous elements responsible for violence would be brought to book. They also assured the people that all their grievances will be looked into for redressal. Meanwhile, the team also conducted a tour of the town to take stock of damage caused the people and their property due to recent disturbance in the area. Regarding lack of essential commodities in certain areas especially farflung areas, the Ministers directed the officials to replenish the stock of ration and other essentials in these areas. Referring to the issue of absence of teachers highlighted by the locals, the Deputy Chief Minister directed the District Magistrate to have random inspections in various schools and act strictly against the menace of absenteeism. Sham Lal Sharma directed the concerned officials to ensure adequate supply of drinking water to the people and the areas where there is extreme shortage besides pressing into service the water tankers.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 06:25:32 +0000
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