Mehbooba presents action plan to bring peace in J&K
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, according to a state government release, outlined a ‘threepronged action plan’ before the prime minister for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir problem
NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday presented a “three-pronged action plan” that included a dialogue with all stakeholders during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring lasting peace in Indian-administerd-Kashmir rocked by turmoil that has left 68 people dead.
After an hour-long meeting, her first with Modi since the unrest broke out on July 8, Mehbooba told reporters that the prime minister was “very concerned” about the situation and has asked for steps to end this “bloodshed” so that peace can return to Jammu and Kashmir.
Appealing to the protesters to help her resolve the crisis, she said, “please give me one chance to address your concerns and aspirations.”
The chief minister also targeted Pakistan, saying it should stop supporting the people who are instigating the youth in the Valley to carry out attacks on police stations or army camps.
“The prime minister is very concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir like we all are. It is a matter of concern for everyone. The prime minister wants this bloodshed to end so that the state comes out of the present turmoil,” she said.
Substantive dialogue
Mehbooba, according to a state government release, outlined a “three-pronged action plan” before the prime minister for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir problem which includes involvement of separatists and Pakistan in substantive dialogue to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities.
However, the release did not spell any details but sources in the know said the plan includes facilitating visit of an All Party delegation to the Valley later next week, a possible change in Governor and appointing an interlocutor to hold talks with all the stakeholders in the state.
Stressing the need for initiating a credible and meaningful political action on the ground to make peace and stability a reality in the state, Mehbooba called for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process which was initiated by the then National Democratic Alliance government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005.
“Please appoint a group of individuals on whom people of Kashmir have trust, that whatever they are saying will reach to people at the helm of affairs in Delhi,” she said. The chief minister said the intra and inter-state Confidence Building Measures initiated during that time had helped transform the situation in the state and the region.
“We shall have to pick up the threads from where we left in 2005 and revive the reconciliation and resolution process with fresh resolve,” she said and added that the present prime minister has the mandate to take bold political initiatives on Kashmir as was done by Vajpayee.
Maintaining that the aspirations and the interests of people of the state are supreme for her government, Mehbooba said the people of Kashmir have been living a life of pain, suffering and uncertainty and they yearn for peaceful resolution of the problems confronting the state.
Appeal
Underlining the fact that she has just been in power for the last two months, she appealed to the people to help her resolve the crisis.
“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 to address your concerns and aspirations,” she said.
Calling for greater focus on the resolution of the problem by adding substance to the peace process through substantial confidencebuilding measures, Mehbooba said, “We should not mislead ourselves about brushing the issue under the carpet as was done on earlier occasions like in 2008 and 2010. The country’s political leadership must commit itself to address all the dimensions of the problem in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the state and the region.”
She said that she had appealed to the prime minister to involve all shades of political opinion in meaningful deliberations for realistic and just resolution of the problem.
Noting that not enough has been done to implement the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ between her party PDP and BJP, Mehbooba said Modi reiterated his commitment that the political, economic and developmental initiatives enumerated in the agenda will be implemented with sincerity of purpose.
Asked about talks with Hurriyat, she said a dialogue should be held with all those who want talks.
But “those who are instigating the people for carrying out attacks on camps and police stations are not interested in talks,” she said.
She also appealed to the separatist leaders to come and help her government in breaking “this cycle of violence” in the state.
This was the first meeting Mehbooba had with the prime minister after the violence broke out in the Valley on July 8.
Meanwhile, at least 25 people were injured in fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in Kashmir on Saturday.
Police recovered the body of a youth from River Jhelum at Sangam in Anantnag district this morning, a police official said.
He said locals alleged that Shahnawaz Khatana had drowned in the river on Friday when security forces chased a group of stone-pelters in the area.
A police spokesman said barring five incidents of stone pelting in Anantnag, Shopian and Bandipora districts, the overall situation in the Valley remained peaceful and under control.