Haroon Nabi
Srinagar, July 06, KDC: Former BJP minister Yashwant Sinha along with other ‘civil society’ members have been visiting the Valley from last many years and collecting reports about the Kashmir situation.
According to News Agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) named as Concerned Citizens’ Group, it’s comprised Yashwant Sinha (former external affairs minister), Sushobha Barve (executive secretary, Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation, Delhi), Wajahat Habibullah (former chairman of the Minorities Commission and the first Chief Information Commissioner of India), Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Kapil Kak and Bharat Bhushan, former editor and independent journalist.
The group has been visiting Kashmir from many years and after abrogation of Article 370 paid three visits to the region.
The group arrives on Monday in Srinagar and reportedly it will be meeting politicians and civil society members.
However, people in the Valley ask what happens to the reports which the group collects about the Kashmir situation.
“The group releases its reports to the media for news generation. Does it help to improve the Kashmir situation beyond news space. I don’t think it creates any impact,” said Inayat ullah, a political observer in Srinagar.
He said that the group always visits Kashmir whenever certain political developments from the centre happen in the Valley and then says it came to gauge the mood of the people.
“What has the group to do with the mood of the people? Who does it present its reports to except releasing it to the media? What impact does the group create with its reports? These questions should be cleared by the group,” the observer asked.
Common citizens also asked that so many civil society groups had visited Kashmir since 90s. “Where have those groups gone. Who is supporting these groups? Are they exploiting the situation in Kashmir for their own benefits and promotion,” ask the citizens. (KDC)
