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| Chidambaram, MPs agree on healing touch for J&K |
| BS Reporter / New Delhi Dec 10, 2010, 00:53 IST |
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At a discussion on the subject at the parliamentary consultative committee of the Union ministry of home affairs, there was a shared view in favour of amending the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
 The perception was expressed both by P Chidambaram, the minister, and by committee members, with Jammu and Kashmir being the subject in this regard. Chidambaram said Kashmir was a political problem and only a political solution would solve the dispute. However, peace and good governance were requisites to reach a political solution.
The MPs also felt efforts should be made to evolve a political consensus at the national level on J&K.
“The government is considering a proposal to amend AFSPA. The contours of a political solution to the Kashmir problem are likely to emerge in the next few months. The first and second reports of interlocutors (appointed by the government to fuel a dialogue) dealt with confidence-building measures. The interlocutors are now focusing to find contours of a political solution. It is making good progress,” said Chidambaram in a statement.
The minister said space must be allowed for peaceful protests in Kashmir and the visible presence of security forces must be reduced. And, that the state administration must improve governance and delivery on the ground.
Since July, at least 110 students in J&K have died in violent clashes with the state police and paramilitary forces.
Chidambaram said the situation in Kashmir had considerably improved after the Union government announced an eight-point plan, but there was a need to strengthen these efforts.
“The violence being witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir is of two types and a different approach must be adopted to deal with each of them. The violence by militants and infiltrators must be dealt strongly but the violence witnessed during protests by residents required sensitive handling,” the minister said.
In the course of the discussion, the MPs emphasised that both the Union and state government should strive to create job opportunities for younger people in J&K, especially the educated ones. And, for efforts to rehabilitate people who had been florced to migrate elsewhere.
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