Srinagar, Sep 22: The issue of security-related restrictions on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway triggered a fresh debate in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para urging the elected government to take up the matter with security agencies and the Centre.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Para said frequent stoppages of civilian traffic during convoy movement, the Amarnath Yatra and the tourist season had created a sense of discrimination and humiliation among local residents.
“It has created a real sense of humiliation for all of us, like a Berlin Wall,” Para said, urging the government to approach the Unified Command and the Government of India for a review of the restrictions.
He said security arrangements were necessary but should not come at the cost of civilian dignity and uninterrupted movement.
“Whenever we set out from there in the morning — though we travel as VIPs and our roads are cleared — the common people face immense hardships. It has become a sense of discrimination,” Para said.
The PDP MLA said residents living along the highway were repeatedly stopped whenever convoys, tourists or pilgrims moved along the route.
“Every day, whether it is for tourists, the Yatra or convoys, the locals — the very people who gave their land, who built the highway — are stopped. Every day, they are forced to wait for 10 to 15 minutes,” he said.
Para said the government should ensure that security restrictions did not turn local residents into unintended sufferers.
“If today, even after 70 years, a Kashmiri cannot walk along the highway with the rest of the nation, if this discrimination continues just because of a single past attack, it represents a grave inequality,” he said. He urged the government to take up the matter with the Centre, security forces and the CRPF through the Unified Command.
“The government must take this up with the Government of India, with the security forces, with the CRPF. I think all of us need to raise this issue: this discrimination on the highway must end, and it should be taken up with the Unified Command,” Para said.
Supporting Para, National Conference MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi said the Assembly could send a recommendation or pass a resolution urging the Centre to review the restrictions.
Larmi acknowledged that security matters fell under the Home Department and were not directly within the jurisdiction of the J&K Government, but said the elected House could convey the concerns of the people to the Government of India.
“Ever since the Pulwama incident occurred, from then until today, we have been suffering,” Larmi said, referring to the continuing difficulties faced by commuters. He said people were “suffering immensely because vehicles are stopped at every single spot”. Larmi particularly highlighted the plight of people facing medical emergencies and families travelling with children. “If someone has an emergency, even they are not allowed through,” he said. He appealed to the Speaker to consider a resolution urging authorities to maintain necessary security arrangements while allowing vulnerable civilians to move without unnecessary delays. “Let them do their duty, but at least spare the sick and the children,” Larmi said.
