Mehbooba advocates peaceful struggle

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday advocated a "peaceful struggle" for the "restoration" of democratic and constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a convention of senior party workers of Pulwama district in south Kashmir, Mufti said the people of Kashmir should not let despair decide their destiny, but rather strengthen their resolve, unify their ranks and "articulate their pain vociferously".

Mufti claimed more youngsters were joining militancy, emphasizing that gun was no solution to any problem.

"We should always keep peaceful means as our lodestar and not lose sight of the fact that there are elements who wish to bracket us as violent and extremist so as to delegitimise our aspirations and our struggle," she said.

Mufti pointed out how farmers mobilised and successfully rallied the whole world behind their cause, saying the discipline underpinning the movement was something worth emulating.