As the cycle of violence has only escalated and public rage is finding expression on the streets, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday blamed the anti-national forces and vested interests for the crisis.
He, however, terming the deaths of civilians in CRPF firings as “extremely unfortunate” and said the current situation was not a simple law and order matter. “Emotional and vulnerable youth are being exploited by the vested interests,” he said at a hurriedly called press conference at his residence here. He added, “The crisis is not because of bad governance” and refused to step down.
Earlier the chief minister called on the Governor, N.N. Vohra, at Raj Bhavan, here to discuss with him “various aspects of the obtaining security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.” The two also reviewed the arrangements made for the Amarnathji yatra, which is scheduled to commence from Pahalgam and Baltal on July 1. But with Anantnag witnessing large-scale violence in the aftermath of Tuesday’s killing of three youth in the CRPF firing the authorities are reported to be worried as the convoys of the pilgrims have to pass through the area.
Official sources said that the Army may be asked to secure the route right from Qazigund, the gateway to the Valley from the south, up to Pahalgam and the pilgrims registered for taking the shorter Baltal route through Srinagar are being asked to travel only in convoys to be escorted by the police and Central paramilitary forces.
The chief minister asked the parents, religious heads and political leaders to help restore calm in the state and in particular restrain the youth. “As a parent, I appeal to parents to counsel their kids and to keep them at home, not to engage forces in stone pelting,” he said. He added, “It takes two hands to clap, to expect security forces to constantly show restraint while you are constantly seeking to engage them, stone-pelt them, mercilessly beat those officers fallen on the ground — these actions result in what we are facing.”
The chief minister made a passionate appeal to the people to help the government. He said that curfew was being extended to more Valley towns to ensure safety of life and property of the people and asked the people to respect the restrictions. “Forces have been asked to use all restraint but they have to maintain curfew,” he cautioned. He reiterated that some anti-social elements were the exploiters.