JAMMU: Asserting that radical groups should be kept aside, Chairman Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool Maulana Athar Dehlavi on Sunday advocated for talks with people of Kashmir comprising every stakeholder but not with Pakistan by keeping the radical forces away.
“What Pakistan did in Afghanistan is being repeated in Kashmir and my personal belief is that all stakeholders within Kashmir should be involved in dialogue to solve decades old mess,” Dehlavi here said.
He said that the Government of India should initiate talks on Naga talks pattern, adding, “Earlier the situation in Kashmir was political but now it is taking colour of communalism.”
“Our organistation always batted for restoration of peace and harmony in the region including the Kashmir valley,” he said adding that during his three-day stay in Kashmir, he observed that people in the Valley want to live in peace and harmony. They want development. Prevailing Kashmir situation is like what happened in Punjab post 1984, he added and said, “Pakistan is trying to create Afghanistan, Palestine like scene in Kashmir but we need to understand its nefarious design.”
“Youth in Kashmir want to connect itself, need education, facilities and for that matter, Centre has to initiate talks with people within the Kashmir Valley except the radical forces,” he added.
“Common man suffered a lot due to 2014 floods, tourism affected but the Prime Minister Narendra Modi under his slogan, “sabka saath, sabka vikas”, should think of reviving industrial sector, tourism, education and focus on other developmental areas to keep Kashmir’s bond intact with the country.
“The PM is talking of farmers but we feel that the words of Lal Bahadur Shastri–‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisaan’, fit rightly for people living on the Line of Control and International Border in this state as they are protecting integrity of the country on borders by fighting against Pakistan and also cultivating their land amid tension,” he asserted.
The Centre should develop border areas under Border Area Development Authority, he demanded. To a question regarding prevailing Kashmir situation, Maulana said, “Pakistan is instigating and provoking youth in Kashmir by false propaganda. He is making best use of social media to do so.” “Still there is a ray of hope as youth want to come out of pellets and guns. People want facilities,” he added and said that Pak channels are viewed more in Kashmir than Indian, which is also causing trouble. On upcoming by polls he said, “People want to vote by defying the boycott calls issued by the separatists. If democracy will win, we will win Kashmir.”