There is ‘more freedom in India than any other democracy’ Mehbooba
Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and discuss the prevailing situation in the state.
After Meeting PM Mehbooba said there was ‘more freedom in India than any other democracy’
Talking to media after the meeting Mehbooba Mufti blamed Pakistan for instigating unrest in Jammu and Kashmir.
She said that the youth in the Kashmir were attacking security forces and police stations after being provoked by Pakistan and separatist leaders.
“I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it shouldn’t provoke them to attack police stations, and should save youth from being killed,” the Chief Minister said.
The meeting with Modi came just two days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Srinagar during which he met Mehbooba, among others, as the Valley continued to remain on the boil and curfew continued for the 50th day on Saturday.
This is the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Ms Mufti after the unrest broke in the Valley on July 8.
She appealed to the protesters to help her resolve the crisis, and urged them to give her a chance to address their 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 and army camps. She said, India has taken many initiatives to talk to Pakistan and it is now time for Pakistan to respond, if it wants peace in Kashmir.
According to an official release of J&K government, Ms Mehbooba outlined the action plan which includes involvement of all stake holders in substantive dialogue to work out a solution to the problem in light of the contemporary geo-political realities.
She stressed the need for initiating a credible and meaningful political action on the ground to make peace and stability a reality in the state.
Ms Mehbooba also called for reviving the reconciliation and resolution process which was initiated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee between 2002 and 2005.
The J&K Chief Minister said, imposition of curfew in the valley is needed to save the lives of innocent people. She also appealed to the media to exercise restraint.
The meeting comes days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited the state where he assessed the situation and held meetings with about delegations of civil society, political parties, Pahari community leaders and several individuals to bring normalcy in the valley.
Mr. Singh also had meetings with Mehbooba Mufti, Governor N N Vohra and State Cabinet Ministers.
On Thursday, the Chief Minister had strongly defended security forces action and 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.
This will be the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Ms. Mehbooba after the unrest broke in the valley on 8th of last month following the killing of a terrorist.
Earlier this week, Mr. Modi had a meeting with a delegation of opposition parties from the state led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The Prime Minister had expressed 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.
An all party Parliamentary delegation is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir in the first week of September and meet a cross section of people, amidst the ongoing unrest in Kashmir Valley.
Sources said, the facilitation of the all party delegation to the state is considered to be an attempt by the government to bring the political parties on board of the process initiated to bring peace there.