Mehbooba urges separatists to take part in dialogues
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said mainstream parties had laid the groundwork for the Centre’s decision to halt security operations in the state during Ramzan and urged separatists to come forward for talks in order to end the “bloodshed” in J&K.
Addressing a rally in Srinagar, Mehbooba said that those who are “out of the mainstream” have been given a chance to stop the bloodshed in strike-hit state.
“An army man, a cop or a CRPF jawan can’t find solution to this issue. It needs a political solution. If there has been an invitation of talks from the Centre, I request all to save Jammu and Kashmir and come forward. We can’t force you or dictate you. We can only request you,” she said.
Early in May, the Centre had halted security operations in the state during the Islamic holy month of Ramzan after an appeal made by the CM following an allparty meeting in Srinagar.
The suspension of operations was followed by a call from home minister Rajnath Singh for a dialogue with separatist leaders.
“We, mainstream parties, created an atmosphere for you ( in the form of) unilateral ceasefire, now it is up to separatists. I request them, it is an opportu- nity. They have been saying repeatedly ‘military solution is no solution; dialogue is the only way forward’. Today you are being given an offer to talk,” the chief minister said.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, have said they were ready for the dialogue provided there was clarity on what would be the agenda for the talks.
Mehbooba’s rally comes against the backdrop of 21-yearold Kaiser Amin’s death after he was hit by a CRPF vehicle during a stone-pelting incident in Nowhatta region.
Alluding to the incident, Mehbooba said: “Yesterday when some youth were throwing stones (at a CRPF vehicle), a child came under the vehicle. He was an orphan but why did he pelt stones? Why can’t we give these children an honourable way to come out of this turmoil?”