Kashmiri youth writes letter to PM as how local authorities “sabotage” peace mission in Kashmir

Mugayza Wani

Srinagar, Feb 5: A Kashmiri youth has written a letter to Prime Minister of India, stating as how local authorities in Kashmir are “sabotaging” peace efforts of central government in Kashmir.

It accused local authorities of discouraging youth working for the promotion of peace. However, it was not immediately known if letter has named some or few officials.

Chairman South Asia peace Movement Tariq Bhat, in his letter has written to PM that local authorities in Kashmir are treating the violence as “great opportunities for them and their families to be elite class and reap benefits out of it.”

it added that youth in Kashmir who are working or have worked or want to work for the promotion of peace, patriotism and nationalism are discouraged by the local authorities.

“The authorities are only kind to them who come from elite classes with great and high recommendations.”

it said that thousands of youth from poor and middle class families are discouraged when they come forward to join or initiate the measures for promotion of peace, patriotism and nationalism.

it has also mentioned the “positive role and approach” of interlocutor Denishwar Sharma in reaching out to youth in Kashmir but adds that “his recommendations and directions about the helping of local youth in Kashmir are not executed by local authorities.”

The Centre has formally notified the appointment of former Director of the Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma as its interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir in October 2017. Sharma, an old Kashmir hand in the country’s internal intelligence agency, have reached out to people almost in every district of J&K.