Omar had led a delegation of Opposition parties to New Delhi last week where they called on President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to apprise them about the ground situation in Kashmir.
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“We also implore you to announce an immediate ban on pellet guns and advise relevant quarters against the policy of mass harassment, raids and arrests as this has worsened an already volatile situation in the state and also goes against the values and principles of democracy”, the memorandum submitted to Mr Modi said.
Pakistan’s Punjab Province Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Balochistan and Gilgit-Biltistan and asked the federal government to take up the issue at global fora, including the UN.
“There is so much of bloodshed and loss of lives and property (in the valley). Whether the lives lost are of our youth, security personnel or police, it distresses us”, the prime minister told the delegation, led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah.
The valley has been on the boil amid violent clashes between stone-throwing protesters and security forces since the July 8 killing of rebel commander Burhan Wani.
It was only through an interaction such as the ongoing talks between the government and the opposition parties that a solution might emerge to ease tensions in the trouble-torn valley, the bench said.
Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq dismissed Prime Minister’s assurance saying if a “lasting and permanent solution” could be found “within the Indian Constitution” then it would have happened by now as Kashmir has been ruled by that Constitution for 70 years. I appeal to the Centre to take care of the majority of the peace-loving people in Kashmir and reach out to them.
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It was stated that in these incidents, 42 civilians and two security personnel were killed, while 2656 civilians and 3783 security personnel were injured. “But it is now ironical that she has spoken at Jammu against the sentiment of her own voters by claiming that Kashmiris in masses are not with the sentiment but has also alleged that they want to spread communal tension in Jammu province, which is highly condemnable”, the MLA Langate said. He also hailed the PM statement that Government of India was always available to receive suggestions from political parties to resolve the problem.
