Asking the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir governments to introspect as what went wrong from 2014 to 2017 that the youth get "irritated and violent" with the name of elections, the CPI(M) today advocated dialogue and an end to "suppressive measures" to restore peace in the state.
"In 2014 elections, the enthusiastic youngsters were in long queues to vote. What happened in less than three years that they get irritated and turn violent by the name of elections?," CPI(M)leader and MLA M Y Tarigami said in a statement issued here.
He said after the turbulent 2016, both central and state governments should have initiated some confidence building measures (CBMs) to instill confidence among the people, especially the youth.
"Unfortunately, instead of initiating dialogue and CBMs the response of the government has been to use more force. It must understand that more it uses the force, more it will aggravate the situation.
It is the high time that the Government shuns its ego and initiates a dialogue without any further delay," Tarigami said.
The CPI(M) leader said the government should stop the arrest spree in the Valley, especially in south Kashmir.
"Such suppressive measures to contain dissent adds to the already existing levels of alienation among the people. Instead of putting the youth behind the bars, there is need to understand their anger," Tarigami said.
He said the government must take steps which can heal the wounds of the people, especially youth.
"Using force and arrest as tools to silence the protests will only prove detrimental and counterproductive," Tarigami said.
There was no logic of deferring Anantnag by-polls to May 25, he said, adding "instead the authorities should have postponed it till the ground situation improves".
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