The minister extended an open invitation to all “who believe in Kashmiriyat, insaniyat and jamhooriyat”, expressing his willingness to talk with those who have faith in the spirit of Kashmir, humaneness and democracy. If only five per cent of the people are disturbing peace in Kashmir, as claimed by the J&K Chief Minister, what prevents her from isolating these elements and winning over the rest in order to restore normalcy?
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Later, Omar Abdullah told the media after the meeting thatthe Prime Minister also acknowledged that “only development can’t resolvethe problem in Jammu and Kashmir.
Freedom fighters have fought Indian security forces in Kashmir since 1989 for the independence of the region or for it to be made part of Pakistan.
“There has to be dialogue and we need to find a permanent and lasting solution to the problem within the framework of the Constitution”, he added. Modi said, “Whether the lives lost are of our youth, security personnel or police, it distresses us”.
The delegation apprised the Prime Minister that the tried and tested formulations of dealing with the political issue in Kashmir administratively rather than politically has further exasperated the situation and “created an unprecedented sense of disaffection and disenchantment”, especially among the youth.
“I am not going to put words into the Prime Minister’s mouth nor am I going to draw further meaning from what he said”, Omar said. During these meetings, the experts objected to the use of pellet guns in the valley and demanded that they be replaced by modern crowd control measures like water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas.
The ongoing trouble in Kashmir should be “dealt with politically” and everything can not be managed within judicial parameters, Supreme Court said on Monday.
At the outset, the Center said the Jammu and Kashmir High Court was already seized of the matter and hence the plea, pending in the apex court, be disposed of.
Officials said he chose not to take a helicopter ride to the Nehru helipad near the historic guest house where the government held talks with the moderate faction of the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen militant group in August 2000.
Much of Indian-held Kashmir has been under curfew since protests broke out over the death on July 8 of a popular young rebel leader in a gunfight with security forces.
“We had requested the PM in Parliament and at the all-party meeting that there should be a dialogue”.
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The delegation on Sunday met with Indian National Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
