Jammu, Jul 3: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson and former MLC Girdhari Lal Raina Thursday stated that the decision by LG Manoj Sinha to address the issues concerning families of terror victims brutally killed by the terrorists was a welcome step in the right direction yet responsibility should be fixed at the highest level for justice.
“Complete and real justice is possible only after all those responsible, including the political masters, in power are identified, apprehended and punished in accordance with the Law of the land. It is therefore essential to inquire into the role played by those at the helm of affairs also,” he said, in a statement issued to the press.
He said, “The commitment to deliver justice and comprehensive support to the affected families; reopen cases that were deliberately buried; to ensure that FIRs are registered and to provide government jobs to the Next of Kin (NoK) on priority is also appreciable. So are the instructions issued to initiate immediate measures to reclaim properties and land that had been illegally occupied by terrorists or their sympathisers.”
In the same breath, Raina said that people had been demanding a high-powered enquiry commission to look into the rise of separatism and its transformation into full blown terrorist violence and the role played by the rulers of that era both directly and indirectly by abdicating their constitutional responsibility.
“Pakistan-sponsored terrorists who imposed their writ on Kashmir by unleashing death and destruction under a concerted plan”- neatly executed by local terror groups. The state government at that time abdicated its constitutional duties, not only created a socio-political vacuum but actually left people’s life and liberty at the mercy of looters and terror groups,” BJP leader asserted.
He alleged that death and destruction that took place over a period of time was the result of a sustained process of separatism and cultivation of anti-India sentiment. “Those in power rewarded, instead of punishing these elements involved in fostering separatism and secessionism. Known terrorists trained in Pakistan and arrested by law enforcement agencies were released in the name of goodwill gesture,” Raina recalled.
“Bringing real culprits to book is possible by a high powered commission as has been done in case of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Such a commission should be constituted without any further delay and those found guilty should be given exemplary punishment as per the law,” he demanded.
“FIRs that have not been acted upon by the state should be clubbed and given to the NIA for a comprehensive probe leading to a time bound charge sheet,” Raina suggested and also demanded the publishing of white paper on this entire issue.
