Delegation of the Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), comprising Vice President Adv. Sharfuddin Ahmad; General Secretary, Mohammad Shafi and Secretary Sita Ram Kohiwal, visited various parts of Kashmir and stayed there from September 24th to 26th, 2019

New Delhi 30 Sep 2019: A 3-member delegation of the Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), comprising Vice President Adv. Sharfuddin Ahmad; General Secretary, Mohammad Shafi and Secretary Sita Ram Kohiwal, visited various parts of Kashmir and stayed there from September 24th to 26th, 2019.

The delegation acquired first-hand information about the ground situation in the Kashmir Valley created after total lockdown for last fifty days, since 5th of August 2019 when by an executive order of President of India, Article 370 was made inoperative and Article 35A of the Constitution of India was also scraped followed by an hurriedly passed legislation.

Facilities of communication including phone and internet were totally withdrawn and all the political leaders belonging to different political parties except BJP were detained. The life in Valley was generally put at a standstill. The labourers, tourists and students have forcibly been expelled from the Valley. The hotels were suddenly locked up and a large number of Army and Para military personnel with riffles were deployed.

During the fifty days period it is informed that more than ten thousand teenagers and social activists practicing in different professions as advocates, doctors and Mohalla heads have also been arrested and sent to jails out of Jammu and Kashmir. The detention day by day is being made tougher and inhuman. For example the political leaders detained in hotel Centaur have been put to more draconian measures. The entire Srinagar as well as other areas are lying lifeless as almost all the shops and other commercial establishments are closed, the tourism has totally collapsed and hotels are closed. The fruits in the peak season are rotting while dry fruits are getting wasted. Schools and colleges are closed and no life is visible on the roads as they are mostly deserted. The public transport is not available and people only in dire necessities and emergencies gather courage to come out on roads where rifle totting security men create an atmosphere of fear and devoid of normalcy.

The members of the delegation had interaction with important persons as well as commoners in supposedly highly disturbed areas of Srinagar as Soura and Downtown where tension is visibly prevalent due to high concentration of security personnel.

The landmarks of Srinagar viz. Jamia Masjid and Dargah Hazrat Bal are locked up where even Eid-ul-Azha and Jumah prayers have not been allowed since 5th of August. The abrupt decision of the Government of India has not only created unbearable difficulties for Kashmiris but also for other Indians who were staying in the Valley for different purposes. The Amaranth yatra was stopped second time in history by the government as first time, during the tenure of Mr. Jagmohan.

SDPI being a responsible organisation thinks it proper and expedient that all the moves for immediate reconciliation be taken so that peace and normalcy in the Jammu and Kashmir may be restored forthwith. Thus, SDPI demands that atmosphere be urgently created so that we may save the integrity as well as integration of the country and to defeat hostile forces from internationalising of the Kashmir issue. So, to win back the Kashmiris SDPI urges immediate steps from the Central Government which are as follows:

  1. Restoration of the communication as before of August 5th 2019.
  2. All the juveniles and teenagers as reported 13000 be immediately released.
  3. All the political leaders and other prisoners incarcerated on and after August 5th be freed forthwith.
  4. Civil supplies and medicines be immediately ensured in the markets of the Valley.
  5. Jamia Masjid and Durgah Hazrat Bal along with other masjids and religious place be opened for public.
  6. The trade and transport of fruits, dry fruits and handicraft items be immediately ensured.
  7. Declaration of restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.
  8. Declaration of restoration of the Article 370/35A of the Constitution of India.
  9. Withdrawal of un-proportionate deployment of Armed forces by sending them back to the barracks and to the border.
  10. Deployment of para-military forces on roads and the locality be reduced to rational level.
  11. Democratic institutions in the state of Jammu and Kashmir be revived without further delay and the principles of autonomy as agreed upon by the Accession Treaty between the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and the Government of India be respected.