A group of concerned group of citizens (CGC) comprising former union minister Yashwant Singh and former chief information commissioner of India Wajahat Habibullah Friday said that they were in Srinagar to gauge the actual ground situation and it seems that Kashmir picture presented in Parliament is totally averse to the real situation.Besides Sinha and Habibullah, the others who are part of the group include Journalist Bharat Bushan and civil society activist Kapil Kak.Soon after arriving in Srinagar, Sinha, a former BJP leader, while talking exclusively to wire service Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that he tried to visit Srinagar in September, but were not allowed by the Centre and the J&K administration.“Now that we have been allowed to visit Srinagar, we will be staying here till November 25,” he said. The former union minister said that they are in Srinagar for an independent assessment to see the nature of economic losses the farmers, industrialists and a local Kashmiri have suffered.“When I was in Srinagar last time, I met some orchardists and farmers, who had bought vehicles on loan and they told us that their vehicles have been seized due to non-payment of loans. Since August 5, Kashmir has been under the tight grip of uncertainty. We will assess the actual ground situation and present the same to the people of India,” Singh told KNO.
He said that when they were on way to the hotel from airport, they saw all the shops closed while as a few vegetable vendors were selling vegetables at some places. “We feel that the entire chain on which Kashmir economy is dependent stands disrupted,” Sinha said.Asked about the possibility of foreign or other investment in Kashmir in the backdrop of Lieutenant General Girish Chandera Murmu’s statement that investor’s summit was on cards, Sinha said that he believes that given the present situation, making investments in Srinagar seems a bit difficult. About whether the situation in Kashmir was normal, Singh said that political leaders including three former chief ministers continue to serve detention since August 5, how come situation was normal.“The statements made by the Home Minister Amit Shah in the parliament is totally averse to the ground situation in Kashmir. Normcaly picture presented in Parliament is incorrect,” Singh said as per KNO reporter.Talking to reporters, Wajahat Habibullah said that suspension of democratic liberties of people are of highest concern for him. “Since we just arrived and are yet to get the actual mood on ground, I believe if the democratic liberties of people are muzzle, that should be immediately restored,” Habibuallah said. “If democratic rights are denied to the people, that’s a big concern.”He said that they will find out what people want and have to say in the backdrop of August 5 announcement. “I am not part of the government as I am retired. As far the people’s pain, so far my all efforts to reach out to the people of Kashmir have not been so successful,” Habibullah said.Meanwhile, the CGC members stated that they will be meeting all the caged political leaders including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and M Y Tarigami. “I spoke to Dr Farooq over phone. He is high in spirits and we will try to meet him soon,” said Sinha (KNO)