Mehbooba Mufti asks separatists to accept Center's offer of talks

Buoyed by Centre's peace overtures, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday asked separatists to accept Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's offer of dialogue for finding lasting solution to all the issues.

"The Home Minister has offered to talk to everyone. They (separatists) should take benefit of it and come forward. It is a golden opportunity and such chances do not come every day. All of us need to come forward to take J&K out of this bloodshed and ensure lasting and honourable peace," Mehbooba told reporters after inaugurating a newly constructed bridge at Mehjoor Nagar here.

The CM also noted that they cannot force the separatists to talk but they can make an appeal to them to take benefit of the offer made by the Centre.

"During Atal Bihari Vajpayee-era, there was suspension of operations. It is after 18 years that Modi government has announced suspension of operations again. During that time there was talks at the level of deputy prime minister who was also the home minister. Cycle is now repeating. It does not happen every day. We can't force them but I hope they will take benefit of the offer in order to take J&K out of the quagmire of bloodshed and violence," she said

Mehbooba said there is no military solution to the Kashmir issue and it is the duty of every stake holder and separatists to help in ending the bloodshed.

"For the last 30 years we have witnessed a destruction. Education system has derailed. We are doing developmental duties in difficult circumstances. We are unable to do the development works that we intend to do", she said.