Dialogue must to resolve unrest in Valley: Yechury

Kolkata: Calling for an immediate political dialogue with all stakeholders to resolve the present unrest in Kashmir, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury today demanded that farmers who have been asked to evacuate their homes in the bordering districts be given compensation for their harvested corp.

He also advised the Centre not to be “myopic” by using the unrest in the Valley for political dividends in the upcoming UP Assembly elections.

“After the all party delegation went to Kashmir under Home Minister Rajnath Singh, it was suggested that a political dialogue with all stakeholders should be initiated to resolve the crisis.

“But, till now nothing has started. The situation in the Valley is worsening with every passing minute. Immediate initiation of a political dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir is required. Why is the alienation of people of Kashmir deepening? The government needs to find out,” Yechury said on the sidelines of a programme here.

He said all political parties were united on the issue that cross-border terrorism was being imported from Pakistan.

“All of us are united on the issue that cross-border terrorism is being imported from Pakistan and the neighbouring country is adding fuel to the fire. But, we should not let Pakistan capitalise on this issue by letting Kashmir burn,” he said.

Yechury demanded that farmers in the bordering Jammu and Kashmir villages, who have been asked to evacuate, should be compensated properly for the crops they have harvested in the last one year.

“There was a rainfall deficit for three years. This year the farmers managed to grow good crops, but when the harvesting season came, they are being asked to evacuate due to cross-border shelling and firing.

“We feel they should be adequately compensated by the government. And my advice to the government is, it should not be myopic and use the situation in Kashmir for their political benefits in the forthcoming UP elections,” he said.