Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti said that resuming dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir issue could act as a bridge between the two nations.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting to review the situation in the Kashmir Valley arising after killing of a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8 at Kokernag. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also attended the meeting.
Two BSF personnel and a terrorist were killed in an encounter on Monday near the Line of Control in Machhil Sector in Kupwara district. BSF spokesman Vishwa Bandhu said a group of terrorists attacked a BSF Post in Bhuriwala around 5.45 a.m. on Monday that triggered a fierce encounter, in which two BSF personnel and one terrorist were killed, while at least three BSF personnel sustained injuries in the gunfight.
MEHBOOBA MUFTI HOPES FOR RESUMING DIALOGUE WITH PAKISTAN
Talking to reporters after the two-hour review meeting, Mehbooba also hinted at resuming a dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir issue saying the state could act as a "bridge" between the two nations.
"I believe there is a need to heal the wounds of people, to initiate dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. These are our own people. If process of dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir can improve the situation in valley, we should do it...There is a need to apply balm to the wounds of Kashmiri people," she said.
The Chief Minister said during the one month of unrest, which started after the killing of Wani, 55 people lost their lives and referred the deceased as "our own boys".
"People will keep dying if we don't take initiative to bring normalcy. We want peace. There is an opportunity for dialogue and we should avail it. We have seen agitations in the past like in 2008 (Amarnath land row) and 2010 (over fake encounters by army). Our children have been killed. Our families have suffered. I don't wish to see any more killing. Our Prime Minister has a huge mandate in the present Lok Sabha and he should seize the opportunity created by the unrest to win the hearts of the people and solve their problems, the way former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee did," she said.
"I am hopeful that the Prime Minister will take this as an opportunity to initiate dialogue with people to address their problems. There is a need to take the same initiative of winning hearts of people, which was taken during Vajpayee ji's tenure," she added.
OPPOSITION DEMANDS ALL-PARTY MEET
Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha urged the government to call an all-party meeting to discuss the Kashmir issue. They also suggested sending an all-party delegation to Srinagar to take stock of the situation.
Raising the issue in the Zero Hour, leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed concern over curfew imposed in some parts of the Valley. He said the curfew is continuing for the first time for a longer period. He said more than eight thousand people were injured in the violent incidents.
Sitaram Yechury of CPI(M) said everything is paralysed in the Valley and suggested use of pellet guns should be withdrawn. D. Raja of CPI demanded withdrawal of armed forces and urged the government to initiate the political process. Sharad Yadav of JD(U) demanded a discussion on Kashmir issue in the House.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government is ready for the discussion and he will convey the feelings of the members to the Home Minister. Responding to this, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said the government is ready for a discussion on Tuesday.
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
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