Srinagar Jan 7 : Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti Thursday said government of India has to adopt her father’s vision to resolve Kashmir issue.
While paying visit to Mufti Mohammad Saeed’s grave on his fifth death anniversary in South Kashmir’s Bijbehara, Mehbooba highlighted the role of her father in rejuvenating the hope for peaceful J&K.
She said, “Today we have realized the vision of Mufti Sahab. He had a vision to take J&K out of this bloodshed. He took a series of confidence-building measures and made strenuous efforts in making peace an inseparable feature of J&K. He believed that dialogue was the only way to bring peace here. He wanted that J&K should act as a bridge between India and Pakistan.”
Mehbooba according to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) said relations between India and Pakistan can be improved only through dialogue.
“Mufti Sahab believed in dialogue, reconciliation and to make borders irrelevant. He wanted Government of India to hold dialogue with stakeholders of J&K and having friendly relations with Pakistan. Government of India has to adopt his vision to bring peace here,” she told reporters.
She said that voices of people can’t be suppressed through power.
“You can cage people and not their thoughts. You can’t win hearts and minds of people through power,” she said.
She said even USA has accepted that dialogue was only way to resolve issues. “USA is withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and wants talks with Taliban to resolve issues.”
She however regretted that August 5, 2019 decision by government of India has further alienated people of J&K.
“Being a Muslim majority state, J&K sided with India. But government of India took August 5 illegal decision, which further alienated people here,” she added.
