Concerned Citizens’ Group, led by Yashwant Sinha, visited Kashmir from March 30 to April 2

Former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha. PTI file

Srinagar, April 16

Kashmir seems to have returned to normalcy, but people refuse to accept the Centre’s 2019 decision of revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, says a report released by the Concerned Citizens’ Group (CCG), led by former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.

‘No space for dissent’

• No space for dissent against government policies and journalism virtually criminalised, notes Yashwant Sinha-led CCG
• The group talked to rights activists, Kashmiri Pandits, Shia and political leaders besides those released after detention

The Group visited Kashmir from March 30 to April 2. It was its third visit to the Union territory after the Union Government revoked the special status of the erstwhile state and the eighth since violence erupted in the Valley following the gunning down of militant leader Burhan Wani in July 2016.

“The CCG met with a cross-section of representatives of civil society groups, businessmen, politicians, newly elected members of district development councils, human rights activists, representatives of Kashmiri Pandits, Shia leaders and political leaders, especially those who had been released after being jailed in the wake of the developments of August 5, 2019,” the group said in a statement.

The report said Kashmir seemed “more normal” than what the situation was during the group’s earlier visits.

“On the face of it, Srinagar seemed peaceful. People were seen going about their daily chores. Life seemed more ‘normal’ compared to our earlier visits,” it said. The group, however, claimed that people were still not ready to accept the Centre’s decision to revoke J&K’s special status.

The CCG also mentioned that there is no space for any dissent or criticism. “Journalism has been virtually criminalised. No protests by civil society and rallies by political parties are permitted. The police do not hesitate to summon journalists and ordinary citizens and even lock them up under the Public Safety Act,” it said.

The Sinha-led group said it seemed that the “anger, despair and alienation of Kashmiris, that we had witnessed first-hand during our six previous visits to the Valley, persisted”.

Apart from Sinha, other members of the Group are: executive secretary, Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation, Delhi, Sushobha Barve; former chairman of the Minorities Commission Wajahat Habibullah; Vice Marshal (retd) Kapil Kak; and former editor Bharat Bhushan. — PTI