While expressing serious concern and resentment over the assault at a group of journalists who were carrying out their professional duties at Hyderpora on Thursday, Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) chairman and MLA Khansahib Hakim Mohammad Yasin Friday termed the attack as sheer frustration of PDP-led government.In a statement to press issued here, he asked the PDP government where their promises of free speech have gone. “When they (PDP) were in opposition they would claim that they stand for the freedom of expression. Now when the same PDP is in the government, they are trying to muzzle the voices of people and not even sparing the media persons.”The PDF Chief also condemned the government’s decision not to allow the separatists to hold a press conference. “The government has kept the Hurriyat leaders under detention or house arrest for the last several months. Did it work? Infact such steps add fuel to the fire.”
Demanding strict action against the policemen involved in the assault on media persons, he said, “It is the right time for the government to take action against the erring policemen so that such incidents aren’t repeated in future. The government should also release all the separatists leaders and allow them to carry on peaceful activates.”Asking both the State and the Central Governments to initiate a time-bound and unconditional internal as well as external dialogue immediately to solve the vexed Kashmir problem, the PDF chief said, “On internal front, New Delhi should start an unconditional and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir including separatists without any further delay. On the external front, a sustainable dialogue with Pakistan is a must.”He said unless the root cause of the problem, which is Kashmir issue is not addressed, the political uncertainty, would continue “Apparently the situation may improve for some time with cosmetic measures but in the long run, unless Kashmir problem isn’t addressed according to the aspirations of its people, violent situations will re-occur again and again,” the PDF chief warned.Asking PDP to clear stand on its so-called ‘Agenda of Alliance’ Hakim Yasin said, “PDP leaders have been time and again claiming that ‘Agenda of Alliance’ is scared. But both PDP and BJP have been totally exposed that they have inherent contradictions. While the Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftiji stated in Delhi that she wants AFSPA should be revoked, the same day, BJP leaders contradicted her. What sort of alliance this is and what sort of ‘Agenda of Alliance’ PDP is talking about.”“Again the Chief Minister spoke about Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and return of power projects from the NHPC, and the PDP’s alliance partner BJP contradicted her” he said. (CNS)