New Delhi: Facing a month-long turbulence and violence in the state, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open a dialogue process with the people of the state.
Talking to reporters after a two-hour meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh, which was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, 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,” she said and adding, her state could become a bridge between India and Pakistan.
“There is a need to apply balm to the wounds of Kashmiri people,” she said.
Mehbooba, who has been facing difficulties in restoring normalcy in the Valley following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8, said only the process of dialogue with the people of Kashmir can help improve the situation.
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,” she said.
“We have seen agitations in the past like in 2008 (Amarnath land row) and 2010 (over fake encounters by army). “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 said after the meeting which was also attended by National Security Advisor A K Doval and other senior officials of Home, Defence and Finance Ministries.