“I am hopeful that the Prime Minister will take this as an opportunity to initiate dialogue with people in Jammu and Kashmir to address their problems. Love those who have been blinded, injured and killed”, he added, in an apparent reference to PM Modi’s yesterday’s remarks that “every Indian loves Kashmir”.
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Citing media reports, he said Modi spoke on Kashmir on insistance of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. “I call upon the youth of Kashmir to move forward with the dream of making Kashmir a paradise”, Modi said. “If process of dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir can improve the situation in valley, we should do it”, she said and adding, her state could become a bridge between India and Pakistan.
Clashes between rock-throwing residents and government forces firing live ammunition, shotgun pellets and tear gas have caused the deaths of more than 55 civilians and two policemen, with thousands of people injured.
Congress spokesman said the Prime Minister’s intervention on Kashmir situation was “belated” and hoped that the Prime Minister will respond to the debate and discussion being held tomorrow in Parliament.
Home minister Rajnath Singh, he said, went to Kashmir but could not meet everyone.
Urging an immediate end to the use of pellet guns to quell protests, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “We have to end the violence and the current bloodshed in Kashmir”.
Azad had reiterated his party’s demand for holding an all-party meeting followed by an all-party delegation to Srinagar to take stock of the situation. “Kashmir has the same freedom every Indian feels. The entire country is with you”, Modi stated.
The Congress leader said that everyone in Kashmir is a victim of militancy.
“When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, he had adopted the path of “insaniyat”, “jamhuriyat” and “Kashmiriyat” and we walk the same road”.
Curfew and hurriyat shutdown began in the valley on July 9, a day after Hizbul commander, Burhan Wani, was killed in a gunfight with the government forces.
Kashmir is a disputed territory, with both India and Pakistan claiming stake to the region.
Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party is part of an uneasy coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, India’s only Muslim-majority state.
“Kashmir has had curfew for over 30 days”. But there are those who do not like development, and are trying to create chaos.
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Abdullah said those central leaders in New Delhi who are advocating a political solution to the Kashmir issue now have traditionally acquiesced with the conventional, tried-and-tested ways of handling the issue.
