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Emphasising that the Kashmir problem cannot be resolved through conventional means, the Communist Party of India - Marxist on Saturday asked the government to immediately initiate a dialogue process with all sections of people in the valley.
"A solution to the current crisis in J&K can be found only if there is recognition that the problem of Kashmir cannot be resolved through conventional means. There has to be an end to the endless cycle of confrontations and killings in the state. The government should immediately initiate the process of dialogue with all sections of people in the Kashmir valley to contain the distressing situation," CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said.
"The people of Kashmir have to be assured that their identity and special status is expressed through a new political framework in which maximum autonomy is the bedrock," he said at the inaugural session of the CPI-M's four-day extended central committee meeting at Vijayawada.
Expressing concern that scores of young men and women have died in police firing in Kashmir, Karat said, "This has brought out the intensity of alienation among the youth against the Indian State in the valley. This has to be stopped."
Hitting out at the Maoists, Karat said, "The outlaws have exposed their vicious and anti-democratic character through their murderous spree targeting the CPI-M."
"They do not stop at this, but attack innocent people, as seen in the dastardly Gynaneshwari Express sabotage. Such actions should dispel the illusion that some sections of the intelligentsia have about the Maoists," he said.
The CPI-M general secretary accused the 'Trinamool Congress-Maoist gangs' of killing 250 members and supporters of the party in West Bengal since the last Lok Sabha elections.
"Such violence and attacks on democratic rights in West Bengal presage an authoritarian trend which bodes ill for the whole country," Karat said.
Referring to the North-East, the CPI-M chief pointed out that the supply of even essential commodities and drugs had stopped in Manipur because of the continuous blockade of highways, causing great hardship to the people.
"The problems of national unity cannot be solved by the over-centralised approach of the ruling parties. What is required is the creation of a federal system that accommodates the diverse aspirations of the people of various regions and nationalities," Karat said.
Among the dignitaries present in the meet were Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, CPI-M politburo members Sitaram Yechury, M K Pandhe, Brinda Karat, BV Raghavulu and party West Bengal secretary Biman Basu. West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya was conspicuous by his absence at the inaugural session.