Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, July 28: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the power to resolve the Kashmir issue, if he genuinely wants to, and urged him to choose dialogue over repression.
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Speaking at the PDP’s 26th Foundation Day event, Mufti said, “I have no hesitation in repeating that Modi can resolve the Kashmir issue. He has a mandate for 120 crore people. He went to Lahore without informing anyone. No one questioned him. He has the power.”
Recalling past Indian leaders, she said Indira Gandhi won the Bangladesh war and accepted the surrender of 90,000 Pakistani soldiers “because she had real authority.”
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Similarly, Mufti praised Atal Bihari Vajpayee for visiting Pakistan even after the Kargil war and Dr Manmohan Singh for attempting dialogue. “They had courage and intent. If Modi wants peace, he can bring it,” she said.
Mufti criticized the Centre’s current approach in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing it of using force instead of engagement. “You are sending more CRPF battalions and arresting youth under UAPA and PSA. What will you achieve with lathis and jails?” she asked.
She alleged that tribal communities are being restricted and said over six people have been killed this year in the region. “Until Delhi listens to the people of J&K with its heart, the issue will not be resolved,” she said.
Mufti accused the Centre of breaking the PDP and weakening regional voices. “We were a party of peace. We pulled many youth back from the brink. But you destroyed our party. What did you gain?” she asked.
She also claimed that Muslims across the country are being wronged and that Kashmir reflects this injustice. “If you only want land, say so clearly. Throw us into the river and take it,” she said, adding, “But if you want international respect, stop this war. Talk. Reconcile.”
Mufti then turned to foreign policy and war rhetoric, questioning India’s priorities. “I know that when a Kashmiri speaks like this, it is dismissed as interfering in foreign policy. But I want to ask the Delhi Government: without Jammu and Kashmir, what is India’s foreign policy?” she asked.
“We have just come out of the mouth of war, and what lies ahead is devastation. I do not know how much, but there will be devastation. Our children, our mothers, our fathers, so many have been killed,” she said.
The PDP chief said that while the physical conflict may be over, a new arms race is escalating. “Pakistan is buying more weapons than India. India is a large country, but as Mufti once said, even the External Affairs Minister now admits that we cannot compete with China.”
Mufti added, “Pakistan is surviving on loans, lags behind even Bangladesh, and has high unemployment and a weak GDP. But we too are poor. We provide free rations to 80 crore people. Our schools lack fans, and our hospitals lack doctors. Yet we want the latest guns and missiles, because we think we have to fight.” she added, “This is why I say: yes, we will speak about foreign policy. Because it affects our lives.”
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