SRINAGAR: Patron of Kashmir’s main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has blamed the government for driving the region’s educated youth towards militancy.
“No research is needed for finding out the reasons for youth to feel driven to arms even after the futility of violence and its disastrous fallout has dawned on everybody,” Sayeed told a gathering of party office bearers.
“The youth are clearly alienated for a variety of reasons that include police repression, injustice, scandalous employment policy and muzzling of dissent by the government.”
The PDP leader said that asking the security forces to prevent educated youth from taking up the gun would signify failure of the political leadership.
He, however, appealed to the youth to strengthen democratic processes “and secure empowerment through the system.”
Sayeed also called for strengthening of democratic and civil institutions in J&K to pave the way for the settlement of Kashmir issue through the globally accepted means.
“It is important that security concerns are addressed but not without providing a full democratic space to people, where they could run their civil institutions without someone having to breathe down their neck,” he said.
He said laws like the AFSPA need to go to realise a credible democracy in the state.
