Mehbooba quotes father, says only Modi can change situation in Kashmir
New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said she agreed with her late father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's statement that the Modi government with a two-thirds majority in Parliament was the only government which could change the situation in the Kashmir Valley, according to ANI.
Mehbooba was addressing the media after meeting PM Narendra Modi at his residence in Delhi.
The Jammu and Kashmir CM also sought the creation of an institutional mechanism of interlocutors to talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir to carry forward former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of a dialogue internally as well as with Pakistan.
Observing that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance was on the foundations of Vajpayee's Kashmir policy and to carry forward from where it had stopped, she recalled the words of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had said that if Kashmir can be resolved, it can only be by the Prime Minister who enjoys two-thirds majority.
"I am sure that the Prime Minister will not forget to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue like the UPA did," she said.
Attacking Pakistan, the Jammu and Kashmir CM claimed it was behind the present unrest in the Valley, which has continued for over 50 days. Hailing the Prime Minister's efforts at dialogue with Pakistan, Mehbooba Mufti said the Prime Minister had shown the magnanimity to invite Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Delhi for his oath taking ceremony, but the neighbour had responded with the Pathankot attacks.
Mufti stressed that Pakistan was playing a destructive role in the Kashmir unrest and wasted several chances to resolve issues via talks. She blamed the neighbouring country for its lack of initiative when Home Minister Rajnath Singh had visited the Valley a few days ago.
Speaking about stone pelting on troops in the Valley, Mufti said as a mother it saddens her that some people teach their children to go out into the streets to hurl stones at others, as if it would solve the conflict. She put the onus on separatists in the Valley to save the lives of the children.
"I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, But please give me one chance," she said to those agitating in the Valley.
The meeting came close on the heels of a clear message from the Centre to the chief minister to control the growing unrest in the state.
Mehbooba has been conveyed in no uncertain terms by the government in Delhi that there was a need for putting an end to the cycle of violence which has claimed 67 lives so far in the protest, said a PTI report.
This was the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Mehbooba after the unrest broke in the Valley on July 8. Mehbooba has been under fire for failing to control the violence as the Centre has made it clear that law and order was a state subject.
WATCH: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi (source: PMO)https://t.co/SkdZQHS23Y
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 27, 2016
Earlier this week, Modi had a meeting with a delegation of Opposition parties from the state led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
After that meeting, for the first time, Modi expressed his "deep concern and pain" over the situation in the Valley and asked all political parties to work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution to problems in the state.
He also made an appeal for restoration of normalcy in the Valley and emphasised that there has to be a dialogue.
In his statement, the Prime Minister appreciated the "constructive suggestions" made by the Opposition delegation during the talks and reiterated his government's commitment to the welfare of people.
Mehbooba strongly defended security forces action on Friday during a press conference and had said "People came on streets, we imposed curfew. Did the children go to army camps to buy toffees (candy)? Was the 15-year-old boy, who attacked the police station at Damhal Hanjipora (in south Kashmir), going there to get milk..."
She had said "Today 95 per cent who have been killed are youngsters belonging to poor families. They were killed in retaliation for attacking security camps... The situations of 2010 and present cannot be compared."
She claimed that 95 per cent of people want to resolve the Kashmir issue through political means and dialogue but five per cent people were resorting to agitation.
