New Delhi-After continuously ignoring the suffering of people in occupied Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally on Monday emphasised on the dialogue process to find a lasting solution to the issue but ‘within the Constitutional framework’.
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Addressing the concerns of the opposition delegation led by former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, Prime Minister Modi expressed “deep concern and pain” at the prevailing situation in the state and appealed for the restoration of normality.
Only yesterday, Congress had dismissed as “shooting from the hip” the Prime Minister’s call for a dialogue to find a lasting solution to the unrest in Kashmir Valley which is on the boil for last 45 days.
Abdullah said they told Modi that Kashmir was not an issue related to the development or the lack of it.”It is a political issue and we told the prime minister that we need a political approach to deal with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir”, Abdullah told IANS.
Opposition delegates led by former Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah singled out security forces´ firing of shotguns to disperse the protesters. “Whether the lives lost are of our youth, security personnel or police, it distresses us”, Modi said, according to an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
“While the Prime Minister talks of a dialogue and uses words like “Insaniyat”, “Jamburiyat” and “Kashmiriyat” without perhaps understanding what they mean or perhaps even without intent beyond mere rhetoric”, Tewari added.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday appealed to youth in turbulent Kashmir to shun violence and at the same time said security forces will have to act in self-defense if they are attacked.
Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani Monday said for the lasting solution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Indian government must shun state violence and uphold worldwide law.
Immediately after the release of the PM’s statement, Omar tweeted, “We welcome the statement of the Hon PM @narendramodi ji and look forward to working together to find a lasting solution to problems of J&K”. And more importantly, let’s not play politics over Jammu and Kashmir. “We will get ample time to play political games later”. They also submitted a memorandum to the President.
The delegation also underscored the need to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders to bring an end to the unrest.
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The delegation said, “Continued failure to address the unrest in Kashmir will further deepen the sense of alienation”. It also met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and apprised him about the situation in the state.
