Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, May 20: Urging to take a cue from the “Vajpayee doctrine,” People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said that “war is not the solution” and “not even the last option.”
Addressing a press conference here, Mufti demanded comprehensive compensation for the affected population and called for areas hit by cross-LoC shelling to be declared “war-impacted zones.”
“These areas should be declared war-impacted zones so that rehabilitation can be carried out on a war footing. For damaged houses, a compensation of Rs 50 lakh should be provided—because it takes a lot to build a house,” she said.
She noted that many residents in these areas have been rendered homeless and are living under the open sky after suffering immense losses.
Mehbooba reiterated that war is not a solution—not even a “last option”—and stressed that civilians have been killed on both sides of the border. “That is the price we have paid,” she said.
“We have already lost lives, be it in Pahalgam or due to shelling. The Government should take a page from Vajpayee’s doctrine—all the answers are there,” she added.
The former Chief Minister said that the PDP was founded to pull Jammu and Kashmir out of the “cycle of bloodshed,” stressing that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s doctrine aimed to “facilitate a resolution to the Kashmir issue.”
“It must be pursued,” she said, “as Vajpayee once stated, within the ambit of Insaniyat (humanity).”
Speaking about the aftermath of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Mufti said, “The only outcome of this war has been the agony and misery of the people—and those involved in the Pahalgam attack are still at large.”
She also demanded that the Government of India recognize those killed in cross-LoC shelling as martyrs, stating that doing so would honor their sacrifice and benefit their families.
“Families who have lost loved ones should be provided with jobs. Shopkeepers have suffered too, and banks are refusing to process their insurance claims,” she said.
The PDP chief noted that, for the first time, she has personally witnessed the suffering of people caught in the conflict between the two countries. “They have endured tremendous losses—both in terms of lives and property,” she said.
She further pointed out that many people who had taken loans to build homes or businesses are no longer in a position to repay them due to the ongoing violence.
“These loans should be waived off,” she said. “There is also an area near the Brigade Headquarters in Mendhar that has been affected, and yet no one has visited to assess the damage.”
In Poonch, Mufti noted, the absence of trauma centres and ambulances equipped with ventilators had cost lives. “Poonch needs an upgrade in its health infrastructure, and the necessary steps must be taken,” she urged.
The former Chief Minister expressed dismay that people, in the 21st century, are being forced to demand individual bunkers instead of better civic facilities.
“They are asking for bunkers out of fear—because they believe war could break out at any time,” she said.
She emphasized that people cannot be kept in a constant state of fear and urged the Government to act urgently and provide all necessary assistance.
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