Yashwant Sinha led group backs Ramzan Ceasefire

 

SRINAGAR: The Concerned Citizens’ Group (CCG) led by former finance minister has backed the demand made by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for a unilateral ceasefire with militants for upcoming Ramzan and Amarnath pilgrimage.

In a statement issued to the press, the CCG said “The security forces must observe the ceasefire strictly and should fire only when fired upon.”

Mehbooba Mufti had called an All-party meet (APM) at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in the wake of growing criticism of her government over recent civilian killings in south Kashmir’s Shopian district and summer capital Srinagar.

Endorsing the ceasefire demand, the CCG said: “The Government of India must initiate a purposeful dialogue in the meanwhile with all stakeholders in a time-bound manner.”

The CCG also made a passionate appeal to all concerned stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to “abjure violence during Ramzan as well as the ensuing Amarnath Yatra and respond positively to the initiative of the government if it takes such an initiative.”

Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), coalition partner of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), did not back the ceasefire and one of its top leaders in Jammu said that no such proposal was agreed upon during the APM in Srinagar.

The CCG members comprising Yashwant Sinha, senior journalist Bharat Bhushan, Air Vice Marshal (retired) Kapil Kak and Sushobha Bharve.

The CCG has visited Kashmir thrice and released three reports concerning Kashmir situation

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