“Let there be no violence in Kashmir during Ramzan”


“Let there be no violence in Kashmir during Ramzan”
Rally for peace in Kashmir - file photo

Concerned Citizens Group urges respite to violence in Kashmir, especially during the upcoming holy month

A statement issued from New Delhi on 22 May 2017 by the Concerned Citizens Group, India, notes that there “is no respite from violence in parts of Kashmir and along the Line of Control and the international border”.

“The situation is far from normal in Jammu and Kashmir and we cannot continue to live in denial,” says the statement, signed by several eminent signatories.

“The loss of precious human lives, including of the security forces, should be unacceptable to all peace loving people and should be ended at the soonest. This will not happen automatically or through the use of force.  It is notable that several military commanders with years of experience in Kashmir have spoken in favour of a dialogue as a necessary step towards bringing peace to the troubled region. We must record our dismay at the hardening of attitudes all around”.

“The holy month of Ramzan is only a few days away. We strongly urge all concerned who are wielding the gun or are pelting stones to desist from doing so during this holy month. We would like to appeal to the government of India and the state government also to take the lead and declare that the security forces will respond only in cases of extreme provocation and in self-defence. Let there be no violence in Kashmir during Ramzan.

“The suffering of people along the Line of Control and the international border has crossed all limits and has become intolerable. The government must take all measures to stop this mayhem”.

Adding that the call for peace “cannot be unilateral” the signatories urge  Pakistan to “continue to strictly observe the ceasefire in force since 2003 and absolutely desist from aligning itself with forces that advocate militancy and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir”.

They also “once again urge the government of India to use the opportunity to begin the dialogue with all stake-holders as promised in the agenda for alliance of the Jammu and Kashmir Government”.

The statement is signed by Justice (retd) A. P. Shah, Yashwant Sinha, Salman Haidar, J.F. Ribeiro, Wajahat Habibullah, Vappala Balachandran,  A. S. Dulat, Nirupama Rao, Aruna Roy, Syeda Hameed, Kapil Kak, Manish Tewari, Badri Raina, Zoya Hasan, Ramhchandra Guha, S. Irfan Habib, Prem Shankar Jha, Shekhar Gupta, John Dayal, Bharat Bhushan,  and Sushobha Barve.

Many of these eminent signatories have also endorsed the people’s resolution for peace between India and Pakistan that has garnered over 900 endorsements from prominent thought leaders in the region and elsewhere.




Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *