Avtar Bhat/
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Sept 28: Maintaining that war is no option to resolve the issues and pitching for end to Indo-Pak hostilities, Chief Minster Mehbooba Mufti today lauded the efforts of Prime Minister, Narendra Modhi who during his recent address at BJP National Council meet at Kozhikode in Kerala said both India and Pakistan should launch a war against poverty in their respective countries.
Addressing the functions, while launching Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY) at Jammu and Srinagar respectively, Mehbooba Mufti said that with this statement the Prime Minister has given proof that he is an outstanding statesman.
Despite being under pressure from all sides to attack Pakistan for its misadventures in Pathankot and Uri, the PM’s message carries a lot of weight and it will have very good results, she said, adding by ending hostilities both nations will progress. She expressed the hope that the people in Pakistan will realize the value of Modi’s message as the Prime Minister despite Uri and Pathankot attacks gave peace yet another chance so Pakistan should take its advantage and work for alleviation of poverty as they will not get such a chance every time, she added.
She also showered praises on Prime Minister for his statement in Kerala when he said that don’t consider Muslims as vote bank. She said today condition in the country is such that lakhs of Muslim students are dependent on Madrassas and had those who used the Muslims as vote bank taken steps for their betterment the situation could have been altogether different at present in the country.
Mehbooba said Muslims are no where so safe in the world as in India while referring to Syria, Lebanon etc. The Muslims visiting to US from other countries are being suspected while the Indian Muslims are respected there, she added.
Making it clear that she does not believe in Hindu Muslim politics, Mehbooba said that no body should create any confusion and instead trust PM’s words.
She said “we wanted to have good neighbourly relations with Pakistan and roads were opened and we were intending to open RS Pura-Sailkot, Kargil- Askardu and other roads also but due to prevailing conditions problem was created”. However, she said the things are returning back to normal by and by and it is hoped that total normalcy will be restored soon. Mehbooba also complimented the NDA and BJP leadership at Delhi for giving full support and encouragement to her at this crucial hour.
Lauding the role of Jammu people, she said that they stood like a rock against the conspirators who wanted to disturb the peace but people of Jammu gave a setback to their plans. Mehbooba while recalling the love of her father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for Jammu people said that it was Jammu which returned him to State Assembly after he was defeated in Kashmir in eighties. He loved Jammu most for the affection he got from here especially from RS Pura, she added.
Earlier while addressing a function organized at SKICC here today in connection with the launch of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) said that India and Pakistan should shun the hostilities and focus on development of the region.
“Instead of fighting wars with each other, the two countries should join hands to eradicate poverty and to address social problems plaguing the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Pakistan with this message on behalf of people of J&K but the Pathankot incident shattered that process,” she said.
Mehbooba said: “The two nuclear armed neighbors must cooperate in the fields of social development, including eradication of poverty and with their growing economies and energy needs, and the need for newer, more diverse markets and trading opportunities, the future of the troubled region has to be defined by common economic interests instead of hostilities,” she said.
Hitting out at the opposition for targeting the Coalition Government over petty issues, Chief Minister said these parties, who want to keep the pot boiling in Kashmir, sold their mandate is past purely in order to remain in power.
“Those speaking against us used to talk in the language of war when they were in power. Mufti Sahab knew that PM Modi has the mandate of the entire country which was why we shook hands with BJP. We have lost count of widows and orphans. How long are we going to fight with each other?” said Mehbooba.
Reacting to the reports that the Centre is in the process of reviewing the Indus Water Treaty, Chief Minister said the agreement is beneficial to India and Pakistan, but it is not in the interest of Jammu and Kashmir. “However, if the two countries can mutually share the water resources, why not their other resources?” she said.
Mehbooba said the recommendations made by the Prime Minister’s Working Groups offer resolutions to every problem in all the three regions of the State, including talks with Pakistan and return of power projects.
She said while the State Government had started a process of development of all the three regions, especially in the field of women empowerment, a parallel process of reconciliation must be initiated to resolve the political problem of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister said as in any violent situation, the womenfolk have suffered the most in the State. “In Kashmir, women have become primary victims of the violent situation over the last three decades which hasn’t led us anywhere. Our party became the harbinger of peace when my father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, spoke of nursing the wounds of people when the memory of Kargil war was still afresh,” she said.
“In times of war, Mufti Sahab urged India and Pakistan to get involved in talks and start a process of reconciliation. In 2002, we formed the Government with Congress when NDA was ruling at the Centre. Atal Ji (Bihari Vajpayee) understood Mufti Sahab’s point of view and started CBMs which ushered the State in a new era of peace and prosperity,” she added.
Chief Minister said her People’s Democratic Party, of which she is the president, entered into the alliance with the BJP to take forward the mission of restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. “If the Centre walks one step towards the people of Kashmir, they will respond with 10 steps which is what made Atalji one of the most popular Indian leader among Kashmiris,” she said.
Mehbooba expressed dismay over the non-participation of various leaders in the region in the upcoming SAARC summit in Islamabad. “It is unfortunate that while other countries are forging new economic ties, the SAARC countries are going in the reverse direction,” she said.
Chief Minister said violence has no place in modern societies. “Those societies who lionize violence as a means to end their problems are doomed. We should look at places around the world where a saga of death and destruction has unfolded and is consuming anybody and everybody,” she said.
Taking a dig at NC and Congress, Chief Minister said that they did nothing but to rig elections in the State to create Salahudin and Yasin Malik. “On what to do in Jammu or Ladakh or in Kashmir or taking forward the dialogue process or on power projects or AFSPA, but unfortunately since the working groups were formed in 2007, their reports came, till 2014 the UPA Government in Delhi did nothing. NC-Congress formed the Government but had no agenda. In 1987, they had one agenda – how to rig elections and because of that Salahuddin is somewhere and Yasin Malik is somewhere. Then they joined NDA”, she said.
Mehbooba while targeting NC for accusing them of joining hands with saffron party said that when Soz voted against BJP he was thrown out of the party. “I still remember that when Soz voted against Vajpayee, these very people who are accusing PDP-BJP, they threw Soz out of the party for voting against the BJP. Then they became a part of the NDA Government even as they had two-third majority here. Omar became a Minister but I regret that they wasted four years of Vajpayee (Government). Vajpayee announced a unilateral ceasefire but the then Chief Minister did not support that here. He said he does not accept ceasefire and that I have told my DGP that there is no space in jails, so go and get them. Those accusing us now, were talking nothing except bombing Pakistan, but when we joined hands with you (BJP), we kept big interests in mind, we joined our hands with a bigger hand”, she said.
Chief Minister said late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed aim was to keep Jammu and Kashmir a single entity. “Sayeed’s first aim was to keep J-K as a single entity. Today, I am happy and I want to congratulate my alliance partner and the people of Jammu – the Muslims as well as the Hindus there – that in this difficult time, thousands of our children are going to Jammu and are studying there as schools have been shut here. Our Home Minister not only came here four times but called meetings in Delhi that wherever the students or youth of J-K are facing any problems in the rest of the country, they should get in touch with us and we will resolve their problems”, she said.
“Mufti Sahib thought that a huge change had come to our country after so many years that a Prime Minister came into power with such a huge majority and if anyone can resolve the problem of J&K, it is this man who has the nation’s backing. So, we joined hands with you so that we can take forward where we left in Vajpayee era”, she said.
Mehbooba said that Prime Minister went to Pakistan as uninvited guest for people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Prime Minister Modi went to Pakistan as an uninvited guest. Why did he need to go there? He went there for us. He wanted that till both the countries do not live together, the people of J&K will continue to face miseries”, she said.
Chief Minister said that PM wanted peace with Pakistan but that country has to think about it. “He walked a step but unfortunately there was an attack in Pathankot. But, immediately afterwards the statement of (NSA) Ajit Doval came and he did not blame anyone, which was good. Instead a team from Pakistan came and they were shown the evidence. Pakistan only registered an FIR against one person but unfortunately nothing happened afterwards. What I want to say is that Sayeed joined hands with you (BJP) because he wanted peace in J&K, friendship between the two countries. He tried his best, but somewhere Pakistan has to think about it”, she said.
Mehbooba accused US and Pakistan of defaming the Islam by creating biggest militant Osama Bin Laden. “They talk about militants. The biggest militant Osama Bin Laden, who was created by the US, and if for the first time Islam was made infamous, it was by the US and Pakistan by bringing Osama in Afghanistan. He was then from a rich family, an educated man. The American president was his friend. But then the US bombed the whole of Afghanistan to kill the same Osama. I want to say that the gun has no eyes and gun has no respect. If today, you call someone, who has picked a gun, a hero, you will tomorrow think of him as dangerous”, she said.
Chief Minister said that Muslims are more safe in India than anywhere else. “Osama is an example. You see what gun has done in the whole world. When one gun comes, then come another and then another. In the last two and a half months in Pakistan, more than 200 lawyers, children, women and people have been killed in militant attacks, so I request you all the people of the State that Sayeed was not given an opportunity by God and I am not here to get anything from this chair for myself, I am here to realise Sayeed’s dream and have joined Modi’s hands, we have tolerated your hatred just for you. I want to tell you that if Muslims are safe anywhere in the world it is here in this country. Modi told BJP workers in Kerala that Deen Dayal Upadhyay has said that Muslims are not a commodity and should be given respect”, she said.
Mehbooba said that PM said in Kerala that Muslims in India have not been owned yet and they are being treated as vote banks. “They are a part of this country and they should be owned, which unfortunately has not happened till yet. They have been thought of just a vote bank in our country, if that would not have been the case, the Muslims would have been educated and we should not have been dependent on so many Madrassas. So, I think when the PM says such things to his party men, then I do not think the Muslims of our country should not be afraid of anything. Yes, some give some statements, but we should trust that he is saying it from his heart”, she said.
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