Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its grave concern at the continued police firings in Kashmir adding to the loss of lives of young persons. The police firing on August 30 has killed one youth in Anantnag and injured five in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar. 15 persons are also reported to have been injured in Kulgam and Bandipore where police resorted to tear gasing and lathi-charge.
This continued resort to lathi-charges, firing and tear gas shells have only delayed the task of finding a settlement to the Kashmir issue.
The CPI(M) had already demanded that an all party delegation visit Kashmir without any delay and commence dialogue with all sections of people without any pre-conditions to find a solution to the problem.
The CPI(M) hopes that the government of India as well as government of Jammu & Kashmir will immediately take initiative in starting the process of dialogue with a view to find a just solution to the Kashmir issue. More delay will only aggravate the situation in the state and add to the difficulties.