Kashmir-based opposition parties have called for an end to violence and have urged the Centre to start an immediate dialogue with all stakeholders, including Pakistan, for the restoring peace and normalcy in the Valley.
The parties met in Srinagar on Wednesday to discuss the volatile situation a day after five people were killed in clashes with the security forces, taking the death toll to 65.
The meeting comes five days after the Centre left out these parties from an all-party meeting in New Delhi. “Pakistan as a neighbour needs to be spoken with as the Prime Minister has done in the past, he has made unscheduled visits to the country,’’ former chief minister Omar Abdullah told reporters after the meeting.
“When you say Kashmir is integral part of India, you are talking about the land and not the people. You have to own the people as well,’’ he added.
Abdullah said that instead of talking about Balochistan, PM Modi should have been concerned about the unrest in Kashmir. “He should have not spoken on Balchochistan the day political parties sat down to discuss Kashmir, which is burning.”
The Opposition also dismissed the idea that Pakistan is fueling the agitation in the Valley. “They (Pakistan) haven’t started the unrest; neither can they keep it going. Yes they are fishing in troubled waters.”
{{/usCountry}}The Opposition also dismissed the idea that Pakistan is fueling the agitation in the Valley. “They (Pakistan) haven’t started the unrest; neither can they keep it going. Yes they are fishing in troubled waters.”
{{/usCountry}}Speaking on behalf of the Opposition, Abdullah said “We (Opposition) are disturbed that our youth are getting killed by bullets of security forces,’’ he said.
The Opposition criticised the Centre and the PDP-led state government for “callous and careless attitude about the issue”. “When you don’t accept the political nature of the problem, how can you find a solution,’’ he added.
Speaking to HT on Tuesday, Abdullah had alleged that the statements made by the leaders of the central and state governments was is fuelling the fire.
“You have a CM who is devoid of any empathy whatsoever. She is blaming everybody else including the parents of the dead children but she herself is blameless, so we thought we should take stock of the situation,’’ he said, referring to Mehbooba Mufti’s I-Day speech.