Oppn parties’ meet passes 4 resolutions

Srinagar, Aug 17 (PTI) A meeting of opposition partiestoday passed four resolutions, expressing disappointment overthe handling of the unrest in Kashmir by the Centre and stategovernment and pressing for initiation of dialogue. "We express grave concern and grief over the prevailingsituation in the state and express our heartfelt condolenceswith the families of those who have lost their lives and alsoexpress our solidarity with thousands of those who havesustained serious injuries," said a joint statement issued bythe opposition parties. National Conference, Congress, CPI(M), PeoplesDemoracratic Front, Demoratic Nationalist Party and AwamiIttehad party participated in the meeting convened by formerChief Minister Omar Abdullah at his residence. "We express our deep disappointment and displeasure atthe response of both the central and the state governmentwhich stems from their insensitivity towards the suffering andsentiments of the people of the state," the statement read. It said a detailed discussion on the current situation isrequired and imperative. "It is unfortunate that rather than the initiation of adiscussion coming from the government, it is the oppositionparties that have initiated a discussion in both houses of theParliament on more than one occasion. "We are grateful to those leaders and parties that haveexpressed their solidarity and sympathy with the people of theState in the prevailing situation and also voiced theirconcerns and suggestions," the statement said. It would have been in the fitness of things had the stategovernment called a special session of the state legislatureto discuss the prevailing situation in the state, it read. "Now that the state government has failed in fulfillingthis responsibility at this crucial juncture, we demand thegovernment calls a special session of the state legislaturewithout any further delay to discuss the current situation,its reasons and implications," the opposition parties added. Given that the issue in Kashmir is largely of politicalnature, the opposition parties recommended that the centralgovernment initiate a meaningful dialogue with allstakeholders. "On more than on occasion, the Chief Minister of J&K hasaccepted that there has been an excessive use of forcesagainst civilians, including on the instance of her speech onthe 15th of August. "We demand a judicial probe by a retired judge of thehonourable Supreme Court is immediately ordered to probe theexcessive use of force on civilians and fix responsibility forthe same," they said. PTI MIJ AKKAKK