Amarnath row: PDP asks BJP to rein in divisive forces

SRINAGAR: PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today termed the ongoing economic blockade of Kashmir valley as a reprehensible act of 'chauvinism' and appealed to the BJP leadership to rein in the "divisive" forces.

"I hope leaders like A B Vajpayee and L K Advani will break their silence over the issue and rein in the divisive forces before it is too late for anybody to recoup the fast deteriorating situation," he said in a statement here.

"The reported enforcement of the anti-Kashmir economic blockade by BJP functionaries even in some parts of Punjab (by blocking trucks) has started pushing Kashmir towards absolute physical and economic isolation," Sayeed said.

Because of the blockade, industries are facing a shut-down, drugs and other essential items are becoming scarce and exportable goods from Kashmir, including fruits and vegetables, are perishing, the former chief minister said.

He said "the fast worsening economic scenario in the areas under arbitrary blockade has assumed dangerous dimensions .... and can't be allowed to dither further."

Terming the situation as "unprecedented," Sayeed said even during natural calamities and wars, the administration and the army had never allowed destabilisation of supplies to any part of the state.

"It is, perhaps, for the first time that a planned economic blockade was enforced against Kashmiris in such an organised manner."

The Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar highway and a few other major roads leading to the state were blocked and trucks were not allowed to ply as agitations over the Amarnath land spiralled.