CRPF alleged youth killing: Congress asks forces to minimise damage

NEW DELHI: The Congress, which is an ally of the ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday urged all stakeholders in the state, including the para-military forces and the people, to exercise restraint.

With the Kashmir valley on the boil over the alleged killing of youth by the CRPF, the Congress had to undertake a tough balancing act.

While it was constrained to ask the para-military forces to minimise collateral damage, it sought to defend their role, explaining that they had to work in hostile conditions.

“There is a need to minimise or rather totally negate collateral damage. Innocents should not be killed. If a boy is killed, it adds to feeling of alienation,” Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said here late this afternoon. He asked the paramilitary forces to “exercise utmost caution,” but conceded at the same time that they are “operating in a hostile environment.’’

“Given the situation and circumstances, the state government is trying its best to handle the situation to the best of its abilities...he (chief minister Omar Abdullah) has a very complex problem at hand. For all stakeholders, there is a need to maintain patience and perseverance,’’ he said.

The Congress spokesman was responding to a query on whether his party agreed with the view of the opposition in Jammu and Kashmir that the NC-Congress alliance government in the state had failed.

“There is no need to be judgemental about the chief minister. Only the electorate can pass any such judgement,’’ Mr Tewari added.

While extending his sympathies to the family members of the people who had lost their lives, the Congress spokesman sought to caution the people to be on guard against the designs of forces inimical to the nation.

``Various kinds of interests are in play there. There are forces which do not want the restoration of normalcy. As and when the situation in the state starts turning back to normal, there are attempts to derail the process,’’ Mr Tewari said, citing the heavy increase in the number of tourists visiting the state this summer as proof that things were fast returning to normal.