Reach out to J&K people with reconciliation process: Mehbooba Mufti to Centre

Srinagar, Aug 28: PDP President Mehbooba Mufti today urged the central government to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir with a process of reconciliation.

Talking to media persons, here she also said that she would not contest the assembly elections. “Kashmir issue cannot be solved by force.

It can only be solved with the process of reconciliation. For that the government of India must reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir with a reconciliation process,” Mehbooba said.

PDP President appealed to the government to release all political prisoners and other Kashmiri youth lodged in various jails of the country. “Court orders from time to time for the release of Kashmiri political leaders including Shabir Shah are a welcome step. These leaders must be set free,” she said.

Mehbooba added that she will not contest the assembly polls. “I have been a strong chief minister during the PDP-BJP coalition government. I ordered the cancellation of the FIRs against thousands of youth. I wrote letters to separatists inviting them to talk.  I brought top leadership  ( parliamentary delegation) to the doors of the separatist leaders for talks but they closed the doors. I also ensured a cease-fire during my tenure,” she said.

Mehbboba stated that if she contests polls now and becomes a chief minister she cannot get even one person released from jail.  “Omar Abdullah sahib has himself said that if he becomes a chief minister he will have to request the Lieutenant Governor for the transfer of a peon. The chief minister now will be like the chief minister of a municipality,” he said.

Referring to the Congress-PDP pre-poll alliance, the PDP President said that whenever the two parties joined hands J&K suffered. “In 1987 they allied and rigged the assembly elections. You know its repercussions. Thousands of people were killed. Afzal Guru was hanged. Maqbool Butt was hanged earlier,” she said.

Mehbooba added that when PDP formed a government with Congress in J&K, the healing touch policy was formed and practically implemented. “We got Syed Ali Shah Geelani released. Can you do it today?  We made the central government hold talks with separatist leadership. Roads through Uri and Rawlakote were reopened. During Vajpayee Ji’s time talks were again held with separatist leadership.  Later after the 2014 assembly polls, we formed a coalition government with the BJP government. We formulated the agenda of alliance to run the government. The BJP government agreed not to touch the Article 370. Promised to revoke AFSPA, and hold talks with separatists and Pakistan,” she said.

The PDP President reiterated that the solution to the Kashmir issue within the Indian constitution is important and so is the restoration of Article 370