Srinagar, May 04 (KNS): Senior Peoples Democratic Party leader and Ex VC JK Cements, Er Nazir Ahmad Yatoo on Monday appealed to the central government to announce a ceasefire during holy month of Ramzan.

In a statement issued to KNS, senior party leader urged centre to announce ceasefire, so that people can hold peaceful prayers throughout the month in their homes.

The Centre should think on these lines so that the common people get some relief because they are facing many difficulties due of encounters, crackdowns and search operations, Er Nazir Yatoo said.

Yatoo said, On May 16 2018, New Delhi agreed to the then J&K Chief Minister Mebhooba Ji's proposal for a ceasefire during Ramadan. The Ministry of Home Affairs, headed then by Rajnath Singh, announced the conditional ceasefire by asked security forces not to launch an operation against militants during the holy month.

"I would like to appeal to the government of India that just like a ceasefire was put in place during Ramazan in 2018, crackdowns and search operations should be stopped, so that people of Jammu and Kashmir spend at least this one month in relief," Yatoo said.

“The government should consider the feelings of people of Kashmir and announce ceasefire. For the testimony, the government of India should announce ceasefire,’’ he said.(KNS)