Pranab Mukherjee reaches out to Kashmiri youth

Reaching out to the youth of Kashmir on his first visit to Srinagar, President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said no problem is resolved by violence and the healing process must be nurtured with compassion and patience.

His visit to the strife-torn Vally also saw a demonstration led by independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed aka Engineer Rasheed demanding clemency for parliament house attack convict Afzal Guru.

“No problem is ever resolved by violence. It only aggravates the pain and the hurt on every side. The healing process must be nurtured with love, compassion and patience,” Mukherjee said while addressing the 18th convocation of the University of Kashmir.

In his address, the President reached out to the restive youth by touching different subjects ranging from ill-effects of violence to a process of healing to the character building in the strife-torn Kashmir.

“I am aware that there are grievances. Many important issues need deft handling and speedy resolution. The government of India and the state government are determined and duty bound to ensure that every Kashmiri lives with dignity having equal rights and equal opportunities,” he said.

Mukherjee said institutions of higher education, with their emphasis on sound value systems and character building, can play an effective role in developing a greater sense of responsibility and a rational approach to all issues.

“Let J&K lead the way in the building of a new future for India. Let it set an example to the rest of India and the world by showing how the entire region can be transformed into a zone of peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.

Meanwhile, a group of people led by Engineer Rasheed staged a protest at the historic Lal Chowk demanding clemency for Afzal Guru. “It was a symbolic protest to draw the attention of the President towards Guru’s mercy petition which is pending before him. I had submitted a memorandum to him during his canvassing for presidential polls  about Afzal Guru Clemency.  I hope good sense will prevail and they will listen to the people of Kashmir”, Rasheed said.