all our children who have been misguided and have fallen prey to the unfortunate circumstances need more of parenting rather than policing.”
The Legitimate Desk
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today said that political complexity of state can be resolved through the dialogue process.
She, however, said that it needs a congenial atmosphere within the State and the region for the peaceful resolution of the issues.
“Whosoever is ready to reject the violence and help in restoring peace should be engaged in dialogue to end the uncertainties plaguing Jammu and Kashmir for the past six decades,” the Chief Minister said while addressing the Police Commemoration Day function at Armed Police Complex here today.
She said that complexities of state set it aside from the issue of law and order.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed joined hands with BJP to form a Government in the State not for the sake of power, but with the larger objective of resolving the political, economic and developmental issues concerning J&K and that is why it has been made clear in PDP-BJP Agenda of Alliance that the Government of India should start a dialogue process with all shades of political opinion in J&K, including the separatists.
She said peace is imperative to implement the roadmap laid down in the ‘Agenda of Alliance’, which would be taken to the logical conclusion through tangible initiatives at the political, economic and administrative fronts.
Referring to the visit of the All Party Delegation, the Chief Minister said that the separatists seem to have missed the opportunity at starting a dialogue process, by spurning the parleys and not facilitating the solution.
“Give peace a chance and I will again plead with the leadership in New Delhi to talk to all shades of the political opinion in J&K, including the separatists, to end the decades’ old uncertainty in the region which has brought immense miseries to the people of my State,” she said and added, a conducive environment, however, has to be created for the peace and resolution process to take shape, as talks can’t be held at gunpoint.
Mehbooba said Pakistan’s cooperation in maintaining peace in Jammu and Kashmir is also necessary. “Even Pakistan has to help us as we both have to live together. Pakistan must understand we are neighbors and Indians, Pakistanis are the same people,” she said and added that it is heartening to note that despite prevailing charged atmosphere in the region the peace bus on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and the cross-LoC trade through Salamabad and Wagah continues to flourish.
Mehbooba said that strained relations between two neighbouring countries have adverse affect on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting the importance of better relations between India and Pakistan, the Chief Minister said that any strain in their relations directly influences the situation in Jammu & Kashmir.
While quoting former Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee’s statement “friends can be changed but not neighbors”, the Chief Minister said that uncertainty and violence on borders impacts the local population most and derails the government’s efforts for ushering in a new era of development in the state.
The Chief Minister said that Like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Prime Minster Narender Modi with a robust mandate on his back has the opportunity to resolve the Kashmir issue in the interest of the peace and stability of the State and the region.
She urged Pakistan to reciprocate with open mind and in good faith the peace initiatives.
Mehbooba said such youth who participated in protests during the uprising should be given a chance to return to their families and live normal lives. “They can be also provided counseling on how to make a new beginning in their lives,” she said.
She added: “all our children who have been misguided and have fallen prey to the unfortunate circumstances need more of parenting rather than policing.”
Mehbooba said her government wants to ban the use of pellet guns as a crowd control measure and sought cooperation of police saying they should “tolerate” and refrain from using such weapons as the protests will not continue forever.
“If there is an injury on you, but if we save a youth’s eyes or arms from pellet guns, then I think it will be your biggest sacrifice. Because this (protests) will not continue forever, it is temporary. But I need your cooperation,” she said.
“The police and the security forces continue to face challenges in J&K and especially the last three months have been extremely challenging for them,” she added.
The Chief Minister said the schooling, transport and businesses have been worst affected by the turmoil and it is time to give people a chance to resume normal life as they are in immense distress and feel suffocated.
“The Government would try to provide whatever support is possible to the worst affected sections of the society,” she said.
