Srinagar: Mehbooba Mufti while addressing her party workers in Srinagar reached out to the Resistance leaders and asked them to ‘cease the opportunity of dialogue’ offered by the Government of India.
Chief Minister said that after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2005, the incumbent government in New Delhi has announced unilateral ceasefire and offered dialogue with dignity to the people of Kashmir.
“Such opportunities of dialogue don’t come always but this time Home Minister of India has announced unilateral ceasefire and offered unconditional dialogue offer to people of all hues. Let the separatist leadership come forward for dialogue to end bloodshed in Kashmir. The ceasefire has halted the nonstop incidents of killings and dialogue with the separatists can be held the same way it was held between the then Deputy Prime Minister L K Adavni and separatist leaders during the reign of Vajpayee government in the year 2004,” Mehbooba said.
The Chief Minister asked all political parties in the State to play their role in getting people of the State out of the unending spree of violence by joining the dialogue process. She said the people of the State, particularly youth, have been in turmoil for the last three decades or so and the need is to come to their rescue by joining the dialogue process to give them a safe, secure and peaceful future.
This, she said, was the main idea behind convening the All Party Meeting by her and subsequently pleading with the GoI to go for ceasefire in the State. “With this we have made a beginning and I thank the parties which supported me in this. Now the onus lies on all other political parties to contribute positively towards this peace project”, she said in her appeal.
Reiterating her stand that only a peaceful engagement in the State can usher in peace, reconciliation and resolution of issues, Mehbooba Mufti said the whole country looks up to the leadership in the State to rise to the occasion and take benefit of the opportunity offered by this historic decision of the Centre.
“No matter on which side of the divide youth get killed, the ultimate loss is of the State and its people,” she said and appealed the entire leadership of the State to play their role in putting an end to this loss. “If this opportunity is lost, tomorrow there would be nobody left to plead our case”, she added.
The Chief Minister said Indo-Pak friendship is in the best interests of the people of the State as it has a direct bearing on the people here. “Even the arch rivals North Korea and South Korea now are meeting to sort out issues, why can’t we?”, she asked and pitched for opening of more historic routes in the State to increase people to people contacts. “Help me in maintaining peace, I assure you opening of more such historic routes in the State”, she added.
(With inputs from KNS)
