BUDGAM: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday cautioned New Delhi against excessive use of force and repression against the people, saying that unless Kashmir is recognized as a political problem peace will remain elusive.
“For lasting peace and stability, dialogue process is needed to be initiated forthwith”, Dr Farooq Abdullah said while addressing an election meeting at Budgam this afternoon.
The National Conference chief said that the Kashmir issue has been recognized at the international level and therefore talks should be initiated with Pakistan and the people of Kashmir for judicious solution. He called for involving all the stake holders to find out a way forward so that the current spell of bloodshed is stopped.
Farooq said, ‘our hearts are bleeding when the blood of young people is spilled during broad day light with security forces caring too hoot for human rights violations. He said use of disproportionate force will take us nowhere. There is need to understand that young people’s urges and aspirations have to be met, who feel pushed to the wall. But the government at the Centre, in mistaken belief, prefers force over compassion and understanding towards the problems of youth. “If New Delhi thinks that use of pellet guns would help restore peace, they are living in fools world”, he said while holding New Delhi squarely responsible for the current morass.
“If successive governments in New Delhi would not have betrayed the people of Kashmir by not keeping their promise, the situation would not have come to prevailing passé”, he said and expressed dismay over political instability, economic disaster and above all fear among the people.
Lashing out at PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, the National Conference President wondered over her hypocrisy saying that when out of power she used to shed crocodile tears while visiting the slain militants’ houses but now she underplays, and unfortunately mocks the peaceful protests by the people. He said Valley is passing through most difficult phase and unless immediate measures are not taken to assuage the political aspirations of the people, Kashmir will continue to bleed.
NC General Secretary Ali Mohammed Sagar, senior leaders Abdul Rahim Rather, Nasir Aslam Wani, Mubarak Gul, Chief Spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Aga Mehmood and Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Monga, Mir Ghulam Nabi Lasjan, Haji Abdul Ahad and Ghulam Nabi Bhat also addressed the workers.