‘Modi has golden opportunity to resolve Kashmir’
Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, May 17: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to start dialogue with Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying he has a “golden opportunity” to resolve the Kashmir issue and “heal the wounds of the people.”
Addressing a PDP workers’ district convention in Srinagar, Mufti said Modi has enough political support to take major decisions on Jammu and Kashmir.
“If Modi wants his name to be remembered in the world and wants to create history, then he has a golden opportunity to solve the Jammu and Kashmir issue, heal the wounds of the people and involve Pakistan in the process,” she said.
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The PDP Chief welcomed recent remarks by a senior RSS leader favouring dialogue with Pakistan and said the PDP has always supported talks with Islamabad. “We should definitely talk to Pakistan. The road to dialogue should begin from Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
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The former Chief Minister said confidence-building measures should be restarted in J&K. She called for the release of prisoners and reopening of trade and travel routes between Uri, Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot.
“We should open the way for business in Muzaffarabad, Uri and Rawalakot. New routes should be opened and the army should return to barracks from civilian areas,” she said.
Mufti also demanded that power projects managed by the NHPC be returned to J&K and said dialogue should be held with both Pakistan and the people of the Union Territory. “Our stand is very clear. We are not talking about any hidden agenda,” she said.
She said routes connecting Kashmir with Pakistan and Central Asia should be opened to improve trade and economic opportunities for local people.
Mufti also called for the repeal of laws such as the UAPA, PSA and AFSPA, saying that if the Centre believes the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved, it should “heal the wounds of the people.”
Referring to Modi’s earlier outreach efforts, including his Lahore visit and talks with Hurriyat leaders, Mufti said the Prime Minister had earlier shown he could take bold political decisions without facing criticism.
She said Srinagar and its people had made many sacrifices over the years and added that slogans of plebiscite, independence and accession to Pakistan had often been raised in the past, but leaders had failed to explain how those goals could actually be achieved.
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