Srinagar, Nov 20 (KNS): J&K Unit of CPI (M) Wednesday said that despite normalcy claims of the government, political activities in Jammu and Kashmir stand ceased since August 5 while lockdown continues despite passing of three and half months.
In a statement to KNS, a spokesperson of the CPI (M) said, "Political activists, who were detained after August 5 continue to remain incarcerated. Usually normalcy is linked to vibrant political activities which have come to a complete halt now. There are reports that prominent detained political leaders, who were shifted to MLA Hostel from Centaur Hotel, are being ill treated."
"It seems as if they are being kept in a ‘concentration camp’ as the rooms provided to them reportedly don’t have even basic facilities. It is duty of the government to provide basic facilities to even to the convicts. But here public representatives, who were detained after August 5, are being kept in unhygienic rooms, where there isn’t even proper power supply and heating arrangements. It is really unfortunate that public representatives are being disgraced and humiliated while in detention. In a democratic setup, it is shameful to treat political leaders in such a manner," he said.
Another norm in Kashmir, the spokesperson said, has become the 'undeclared' house arrest of political activists. "While on the one hand government claims that normalcy has returned and political activists are free to move out, on the other, those placed under house detention, are not being allowed to move out. And the people, who were arrested and shifted to outside state prisons before or after August 5, continue to languish in jails. Their cases need an immediate review," he said.
"Besides the political uncertainty, the communication blockade imposed after August 5 has dealt a severe blow to Kashmir’s fragile economy. Internet, pre-paid mobile and SMS services continue to remain snapped which has created unimaginable miseries to common people. Trade and tourism sectors have been directly hit due to the communication blockade while students, researchers and other professionals are facing huge crisis due to snapping of internet services," he added.
The spokesperson also said in today’s digital world, people in Kashmir were hankering for communication facilities. Students who are preparing for national level competitive exams have been worst affected. "For past several weeks, we have been hearing that broadband internet services will be restored, but it has proven a hoax till now. It is high time that authorities without any further delay release all the political detainees, restore communication facilities so that people could have sigh of relief," he said.
"Also after the November 7 heavy snowfall, authorities have failed to assess the huge losses suffered by farmers, including fruit growers. Till now the assessment has not been done and no compensation has been provided to the victims. In remote villages electricity is yet to be restored after the snowfall. The government must take immediate steps to provide some relief to people as it has been almost two weeks since the snowfall wreaked havoc in Kashmir," he added. (KNS)